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Southwest Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Policy: A Guide for Parents

If your child needs to travel alone, it's understandable to feel worried and concerned about their safety and comfort. Fortunately, Southwest Airlines has a reliable unaccompanied minor policy to ensure that children aged between 5 and 11 years old have a hassle-free and comfortable journey. In this guide, we'll provide you with all the information you need to know about Southwest Airlines unaccompanied minor policy.

Who is Considered an Unaccompanied Minor by Southwest Airlines?

When making a reservation for a child between the ages of 5 and 11 years old, parents or guardians will be asked to enter their date of birth and indicate whether they will be travelling with another passenger aged 12 or older. If not, the child will be considered an unaccompanied minor, and parents or guardians will need to fill out an unaccompanied minor form with all travel details and pay an additional fee for the service.

Southwest Airlines also has a Young Traveller Policy for children aged 12 and older. Parents or guardians must ensure that their child can navigate through airports, check-in and board the flight, follow flight attendants' instructions, and deal with possible flight disruptions. If the child is not comfortable with these requirements, Southwest Airlines strongly discourages parents or guardians from allowing their children to travel alone.

Unaccompanied Minor Restrictions and Complimentary Services

Southwest Airlines allows unaccompanied minors to travel on non-stop flights only or flights that do not require a change of aircraft. Unaccompanied minor flights are indicated by a single flight number. Additionally, unaccompanied minors are not allowed to board connecting flights, including those with partner airlines.

Southwest Airlines takes great care of unaccompanied minors during the flight, offering them a complimentary snack and beverage service. However, if the flight is during meal times, parents or guardians are recommended to pack extra food or snacks for their child to avoid hunger.

How to Make Unaccompanied Minor Reservations

Parents or guardians can make unaccompanied minor reservations online at Southwest Airlines' official website or at the airline's ticket counter at the airport. Alternatively, for a hassle-free and convenient booking, parents can directly call Airlinesmap Southwest booking experts at (800) 385-0511, who will assist in filling out the necessary travel details. Bookings will be confirmed only after paying the unaccompanied minor service fee.

After completing the reservation, parents or guardians must provide the confirmation number to the designated person picking up or dropping off the child. The designated person's information to be filled out in the form includes their name, address, phone number (including area code), relationship with the child, and alternate contact phone number. The unaccompanied minor will only be accepted for travel after providing proof of the child's age.

Unaccompanied Minor Service Fee

Southwest Airlines charges a $50 unaccompanied minor service fee each way per passenger ($100 for roundtrip flights). Even if two unaccompanied minors are travelling together on the same reservation, parents or guardians will be required to pay $50 each way for each unaccompanied minor boarding Southwest Airlines flights. The fee is refundable if the reservations are cancelled and the unaccompanied minor is not travelling, if the airline cancels the flight, or if the unaccompanied minor is travelling with an adult.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Southwest Airlines has an efficient and reliable unaccompanied minor policy to ensure that children aged between 5 and 11 years old have a comfortable and safe journey. The airline provides necessary restrictions and complimentary services, as well as an easy booking process, to alleviate parents' concerns about their child's travel. By following these guidelines and making the necessary arrangements, parents can be assured of their child's well-being

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