Southwest Unaccompanied Minor

Are you sending your kid to another place by air? Well, that could be a great decision but choosing the right airline will enhance your experience. With Southwest unaccompanied minor rules, the airline ensures that your youngster will get attentive care. They will also receive professional assistance from ground and cabin crew members when flying alone. In this post, we’ll cover a variety of topics, including the rules and regulations you need to be aware of when planning a trip for minors. You’ll also learn the cost of minor travel, how the trip operates, and much more. 

Southwest unaccompanied minor policy

Southwest allows unaccompanied minors (UMs) or youngsters aged five to eleven to travel without an adult passenger age 12 or older. 

Although there is a “young traveler” regulation for children between the ages of 12 and 17, those over 12 must travel independently and cannot travel as unaccompanied minors.

The Southwest unaccompanied minor fee will cost you $50 each way (or $100 roundtrip). In addition, there is the cost of each child’s airfare. This means the total cost would be $220 if you were flying an unaccompanied kid roundtrip and the airfare was $120. 

Refundable fees apply to unaccompanied kids. Contact the customer care line or go to the airport ticket counter to claim a refund if there is a flight cancellation. Do so if the unaccompanied minor refuses to fly or decides not to rebook. 

According to Southwest Airlines unaccompanied minor policy, the individual purchasing the ticket must certify that they are either the kid’s parent or guardian.

Due to bad weather or other technical difficulties, airlines are still within their rights to refuse to transport unaccompanied minors on flights that are diverted or canceled.

At the ticket desk, the youngster must present a birth certificate or another kind of legal identity as evidence. This is needed to qualify for the Southwest unaccompanied minor age program.

A parent or legal guardian must present a current, government-issued photo ID to an airline executive. Do so whenever an unaccompanied youngster checks in or is picked up. 

Unaccompanied children may only go on nonstop flights or within the same plane. For youngsters aged 5 to 11 traveling alone, parents or guardians should not schedule a connecting connection or a red-eye journey. 

For travel outside of the US, the airline does not provide services for unaccompanied minors. 

The Online Booking process:

You must mention whether the youngster will be traveling with an adult over the age of 12 when you enter the child’s birthdate online.  If not, you will need to fill out the form for unaccompanied minor travel and pay the charge. 

You are still able to reserve a ticket for an unaccompanied kid if you are using Rapid Rewards (points) to make your reservation.

You will require the following details when you make your reservation: 

• The kid’s full name
• Your relationship with the kid
• The youngster’s address
• Telephone number(s)
• Your kid’s DOB
• Details about both the parent/guardian dropping them off and the one picking them up
• Contact details for an alternate appointee at the child’s destination.

Dropping Off the Unaccompanied Minor 

• The departure gate must be escorted by an adult 45 minutes before the scheduled departure for unaccompanied youngsters. The parents or guardians who dropped off their youngsters must wait until takeoff in the boarding gate area.
• Before the flight, an airline representative will make the unaccompanied children’s pre-boarding announcements. For the minor to board the aircraft, the drop-off parent or guardian must pass the child over as directed.

When an unaccompanied minor boards a flight

• Once on board, the flight attendant will occasionally check in on or speak with unaccompanied youngsters while performing other tasks. Throughout the flight, the minors are not constantly watched over. 
• The flight official will not accompany unaccompanied youngsters out of the airport before or after their scheduled flight.
• The activities and conduct of the unaccompanied minor are not the airline’s fault. 

Southwest unaccompanied minor pick up

• The welcoming parents and guardians must appear at the gate 45 minutes before the scheduled arrival time. To facilitate the handover of the youngster between the specified parties, they must provide the airline agent with a legitimate, government-issued picture ID.

• The parent or guardian who has been designated by the airline will be the only person who can receive an unaccompanied youngster. In case, to alter the designated adult to receive the child, they must make prior arrangements with airline employees at the ticket counter.

• If the authorized person does not meet the unaccompanied minor upon arrival at the destination airport, the airline may take such action as is reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances. To take such action, the parents or guardians must pay the airlines’ travel and administrative costs.

Southwest  Air Unaccompanied Minor Phone Number

You can easily book a Southwest Airlines flight over the phone and discuss any accompanying child travel arrangements with an airline official. The airline executive will fill out the Southwest unaccompanied minor form on your behalf after you finalize the booking. You must use your registered email address to meet the Southwest Airlines ID requirements for children.

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