When an unaccompanied minor travels alone, there are some guidelines to consider. Many US airlines permit children aged five and above to travel alone, provided they adhere to the required protocols. The parents or guardians of unaccompanied minors must submit relevant documents to the concerned authorities before the travel date. So, does Southwest Airlines permit unaccompanied minors to travel? If, yes, what are the rules and regulations for the same? Read on to know more.
Southwest Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Age
As per Southwest Airlines rules and regulations, a child must be 5-11 years old to fly as an unaccompanied minor. That’s the recommended age for most airlines.
How Do You Book a Reservation for an Unaccompanied Minor on Southwest Airlines?
There are specific rules and regulations for Southwest Airlines Unaccompanied Minor reservations. If you have a minor traveling unaccompanied, you can book their reservation online at Southwest’s official website, via phone, or at the reservation counter at the airport. Remember, there’s a restriction on international travel. Minors aren’t permitted to fly to or from any international destination unaccompanied.
There are even restrictions on traveling unaccompanied on connecting flights. So, if your child is traveling unaccompanied, ensure you’ve made the reservation on a non-stop flight. You can reserve a flight that stops at a particular destination, provided flight changes aren’t needed. It isn’t possible to monitor kids all the time throughout their travel. Therefore, children mature enough to travel alone with minimum adult supervision may travel unaccompanied on Southwest Airlines.
Tips to Know to Book Regarding an Unaccompanied Minor
When booking for an unaccompanied minor, you must furnish details of the individual who will drop off and pick up your child at the destination. These are some of the information that you need to provide about the concerned person:
- Name
- Relationship your child with the concerned person
- Address
- Contact number
You’ll have to pay the service charge when you book a reservation for an unaccompanied minor.
Ways to Prepare Your Unaccompanied Minor to Travel
If you have an unaccompanied minor for Southwest Airlines, here are some points to remember when you prepare your UM to travel.
- Ensure to make copies of their itinerary.
- Give your child the contact details of the person picking them up.
- Monitor the status of your child’s flight by downloading the Southwest app.
- Pack ample food or snacks with your kid if they feel hungry during their journey.
- Charge the electronic device your kid is carrying since all Southwest aircraft don’t have in-seat power.
- The DOT (US Department of Transportation) has vividly elaborated on the dos and don’ts to remember when kids travel alone. Make sure you read it, as it will help you understand the essential guidelines you must adhere to.
Things to Remember While Dropping Off The Unaccompanied Minor
- You must reach the gate at least 45 minutes before the departure time. You must also contact the gate official to inform them that you are dropping off an unaccompanied minor.
- Hand over the unaccompanied minor paperwork to the agent. Ensure that the details on the paperwork, i.e., the destination airport and flight number, match the itinerary of the unaccompanied minor.
- Your minor must wear a UM lanyard throughout the flight, into which the UM form will be inserted.
- An employee will escort your child to the aircraft. The UM will also introduce the kids to the flight attendant as a UM.
- The person dropping off the UM must remain at the airport until the flight departs. Southwest authorities will inform them when they can leave the departure area.
- After dropping off the minor, you must call their guardian or parent and inform them about the flight’s departure.
Things that the Unaccompanied Minor Is Expected to Follow Onboard
The Southwest Airlines Unaccompanied Minor travel policies aren’t stringent. However, when the unaccompanied minors are on board they are expected to follow some rules for a hassle-free travel.
- The flight will check upon the child attendant whenever possible. However, constant monitoring isn’t possible.
- The UM lanyard must be around the child’s neck throughout the journey.
- The child should follow basic instructions like wearing a seatbelt, etc.
- The guardian or parent who will pick up the child at the destination airport must be available to receive phone calls during the flight. This way, they’ll remain updated about any flight irregularities or delays.
- Once the flight reaches its destination, the UM will be escorted to their parent or guardian, who has come to pick them up.
It must be remembered that Southwest Airlines authorities won’t release a UM to anyone other than the guardian or parent designated to pick them up. If the pickup is changed, the guardian or parent must notify a Southwest Airlines representative at the ticket counter.
Tips to Follow While Picking Up the UM From the Destination Airport
As per the Southwest Airlines Unaccompanied Minor travel policy, the parents or guardians of the UM must keep a few things in mind while picking up the child from the destination airport.
- Check Southwest Airlines’ official website for the flight’s arrival time. This will help you get sufficient time to acquire the gate pass and reach the security checkpoint, where you’ll be able to greet your kid at the gate area of the flight.
- To get the gate pass, you must carry proper documents, including your valid photo ID and a copy of your child’s itinerary.
- You must reach the gate at least 45 minutes before the flight’s scheduled arrival time. Check with an employee at the gate and inform them that you’ve come to pick up a UM (Unaccompanied Minor).
- If the designated person isn’t able to meet the UM upon the flight’s arrival, Southwest Airlines can take any action they find reasonable under such circumstances. The guardian or parent must agree to reimburse the airlines for the expenses incurred upon taking such action.
Southwest Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Fees
Southwest Airlines charges $100 per Unaccompanied minor (UM) between the ages of 5 and 11. The service fee charged is in addition to the basic fare. UM fees are refundable. If you cancel the reservation, the UM doesn’t travel, or the flight gets canceled, and you don’t choose to rebook under such circumstances, you’ll get a refund of the UM fee. You will also be refunded if your kid isn’t traveling as a UM anymore and is accompanied by a passenger aged 12 and above. You can request a refund by contacting Southwest at 1-800-435-9792 (1-800-I-FLY-SWA).
Conclusion
When you have an Unaccompanied Minor on board, ensure that you, as a guardian or parent, have adhered to all the rules and regulations. When that doesn’t happen, and if all the terms and conditions aren’t adequately met, Southwest Airlines won’t permit travel for the UM. Moreover, Southwest Airlines doesn’t take responsibility for any actions of the Unaccompanied Minor.
By default, the purchaser of the reservation is the UM’s guardian or parent or possesses the authority to act on behalf of their guardian or parent. If the action of the unaccompanied minor has resulted in any damage or if the UM has incurred injuries due to their negligence, the purchaser will compensate Southwest Airlines and will not hold them responsible.
FAQs – Southwest Airlines Unaccompanied Minor
Children between 12 and 17 years can travel alone on Southwest Airlines. They are considered as Young Travelers. They must have the maturity of solo traveling and should be able to check in independently, pass through security checkpoints unassisted, claim luggage, board, and deplane on their own. Guardians or parents may accompany a Young Traveler (YT) through security checkpoints by acquiring a gate pass at the ticket counter. They would need to produce a valid government ID.
Unlike unaccompanied minors, young travelers won’t be monitored during the flight. They won’t be escorted off the flight or taken to their guardians or parents. Like adult passengers, they will be left on their own.
Southwest Airlines charges $100 as a UM fee per person per way, which is refundable, though.
As mentioned, children aged 12-17 are considered YT or Young Travelers. Unlike unaccompanied minors, they aren’t monitored during the flight. They are more independent travelers.
Unaccompanied minors cannot opt for Early Bird Check-In since they’ll have to pre board the flight.
The US Mainland – Hawaii flights have specific procedures for transporting plants and animals. The guardian or parent of UM must fill out the Plants and Animals Declaration Form. They should submit it at the departure gate before the unaccompanied minor boards the flight. When the form has been completed it will be placed in the UM lanyard’s front pocket.