Southwest Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Policy

Do you require your kid to travel alone with Southwest but are worried about their safety? If yes, you must understand about Southwest Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Policy and its amazing benefits. Moreover, it is cheap to fly with children on Southwest.

The Unaccompanied Minor program is only for children between five through 11 years old. Unaccompanied Minors cannot make the EarlyBird Check-in as the childrens are required to pre-board the flight. In this blog, we will learn everything you must know about the Southwest Airlines Unaccompanied Minor program UNMR , who qualifies, fees, rules and helpful tips to prepare your child for a confident and stress-free flight.

Highlights of Southwest Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Rules

If you are planning a trip for your child can feel overwhelming, especially when they’re flying alone. With the Southwest Airlines Unaccompanied Minor program, parents can feel more at ease knowing their young traveler is guided & supervised every step of the journey. Southwest has set up some guidelines that you must follow to send your child alone for traveling. Read all the mentioned points carefully:

• Unaccompanied Minor procedures do not apply to unaccompanied travelers ages 12 through 17.
• The children between 4 and 11 years will be considered unaccompanied minors according to the UMNR policy of Southwest. Kids below five years cannot fly.
• Southwest Airlines enables children from 5 to 12 years old to fly solely by another passenger up to 12 years old.
• Children between 4 and 11 years can travel alone with Southwest Airlines and pay $50 for a one-way trip.
• Southwest Airlines Unaccompanied Minor program applies to children between 4 and 11 who can travel alone.
• Parents need to provide the complete details for the individual who will pick. They drop the child at the airport as per the rules of Southwest Airlines unaccompanied minor age.
• The airline will ask you to provide the required documents at the time of boarding the flight related to your children.

What are the Age Requirements for unaccompanied minors on Southwest?

On Southwest Airlines, minor service is required for children ages 5 to 11 who are traveling solo. This service helps children in this age group receive extra supervision and assistance. The airline staff provide help from check in, through boarding and flight, until minor handed over to adults at destination.

Children under five are not allowed to fly alone and should be accompanied by a passenger who is twelve. Kids ages 12-17 are Young Travelers. They do not require minor services and can manage check in, boarding, and travel independently.

How to Book Southwest Unaccompanied Minors Service?

Booking Southwest unaccompanied minor service is easy and should be done at time of flight reservation. Book either online or offline, but provide all required details about child and adult who will drop off and pick up minors. The steps are as follows:

Book online through website:

• Go to Southwest Airlines www.southwest.com and start a flight reservation.
• Enter child information as a passenger.
• Select “Unaccompanied Minor” if available.
• Provide authorized adult drop off and pick-up details.
• Confirm flight itinerary is non stop or direct.
• Pay for airfare and the UM service fee.
• Receive booking confirmation with UM details.
• Arrive at the airport early for check-in and gate handoff.

Offline booking (BY Phone and In Person)

Passengers can book UM service by calling Customer Service 1-302-594-8200 or visiting a ticket counter at airport. Provide name, age, and other required details, with names and contact information of adults who will drop off and pick up child. After that, Pay Southwest unaccompanied minor service fee in addition to airfare. The airline staff will help in all steps and give instructions for check in and handoff at gate.

Parents/guardians must have the below information when they are ready to fill Southwest Airline unaccompanied minor form.

• The complete name for the child
• Your relationship with the child
• The complete address of the child
• Provide the contact number along with the area code
• The correct date of birth for the child
• Complete needed information about that person who will pick up and drop off the child.
• The contact details for another designee at the destination of the child.

What Are Flight Restrictions for Unaccompanied Minors?

Flying alone can be stressful for children and parents both. Airlines have rules for minors to ensure safety and comfort throughout journey. Understanding these restrictions helps parents prepare and avoid travel issues. The restrictions for Minors, are as follows:

• Age limits vary by airline,children 5–11 should use unaccompanied minor service.
• Children under 5 will not be allowed to fly alone.
• Direct flights are required, connecting flights will be restricted.
• Some airlines allow minors on domestic flights.
• Advance booking and payment for minor service is mandatory.
• Guardians should provide contact information and ID for pickup and drop off.
• Children should follow airline safety rules, including seatbelt and electronic devices.
• flights or times (overnight or red eye) will be restricted for UM.

Can Children Aged 12 to 17 Use Unaccompanied Minor Service?

Kids who are 12-17 are not considered UM by Southwest Airlines. They are called Young Travelers and can fly alone without using minor service. This means they do not require extra supervision from airline staff and check in, board, and travel on their own. Only children aged 5–11 should use unaccompanied minor programs when flying solo.

Southwest Airlines unaccompanied minor Fee

Southwest Airlines unaccompanied minor cost $50 only for direct way flights and the $100 for the round-trip tickets. The unaccompanied Minor is only available for children 5 to 12 years old who are flying solely. It is the addition of the flight cost for each child. Similarly, the total cost will be $220 when the airfare costs $120, and the children are traveling as unaccompanied minors round trip. Moreover, this fee is much less than the airline charge. For example, you need to pay $150, and thus, you can save a couple of hundred dollars on a trip ticket.

How Southwest Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Service Works?

When scheduling a ticket for a youngster traveling alone, unaccompanied minor paperwork must be finished before going to the ticket counter at the airport. Unaccompanied Minor form has all the details required to make it easier for the youngster to be transferred between the persons listed:

• Child (name, date of birth, gender, destination, flight number).
• Alternate contact at destination (name, relationship, phone).
• Parents/guardians at the destination (name, address, relationship, phone).
• Parent/guardian at the origin (name, address, relationship, phone).

Restrictions

Unaccompanied minors are only permitted to fly on non-stop or direct flights operated by Southwest Airlines. Southwest Airlines maintains the authority to decline the admission of unaccompanied minors for the flight that are expected to end early or avoid the child’s destination due to operational difficulties or bad weather. Flights to and from international locations are not eligible for the Unaccompanied Minors Service.

Drop-off and Pick-up

Make sure you give yourself enough time at the airport so that you can check in, get through security, and get to the departure gate at least 45 minutes ahead of time!

The parent/guardian who drops off unaccompanied Minor must check in at the only ticket counter upon arrival at the airport. To obtain the boarding pass and escort pass, the child and the person leaving them off at the ticket counter must reconfirm, even when Unaccompanied Minor carries no baggage to check and has already checked in online or at the self-service kiosk.

The following documentation must be presented at the ticket counter:

• Proof of the age (the birth certificate of the child, etc.).
• A copy of the Unaccompanied Minor’s itinerary.
• Your valid, government-issued ID.
• The completed Unaccompanied Minor form.

The filled-out form will be attached to Minor lanyard, which the young passenger is required to wear the entire journey. You can go through security with your child’s escort pass in hand and follow them to the departure gate.

At Departure

The Customer Service Representative must be informed that you will drop off your child like a unaccompanied minor. The minors board the aircraft early in the general boarding process, accompanied by a representative from Southwest Airlines who will pair them up with a flight personal. The youngster will be led onto the plane after all the passengers have boarded/in between boarding groups when you do not have time to preboard.

Until the airplane takes off, you will need to stay at the gate area. When the parent/guardian meets unaccompanied Minor at the destination, they need to acquire a pass at the flight ticket desk, show a photo copy of the child’s itinerary, and a valid government-issued ID.

The Unaccompanied Minor’s pick-up representative needs to reach the gate 45 minutes ahead of time. Informing a Southwest Airlines worker that you are bringing up to unaccompanied minor is appropriate. A uniformed Southwest Airlines employee will escort the child off the aircraft and bring them to meet the approved parent/guardian, who will need to sign a release form and provide a valid photo ID.

Conclusion!

This is how you can easily book a safe and comfortable journey for your child by booking Southwest Airlines unaccompanied minor facilities. It is advisable to read the guidelines and other important aspects related to the policy. It enables your kid to fly and reach the destination smoothly.

Southwest Airlines is always available to assist passengers with their queries/issues. The unaccompanied minor service is available for children between the ages of 5 and 11, with a service fee of $50 per child each way. If you have any questions or need personalized assistance, the dedicated support team is ready to help. Our travel agents work quickly to provide clear answers and the best possible solutions, making the booking process simple and stress-free.

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