Can a child fly alone from a SC airport? Here’s what to know
Can your child fly on a commercial airline alone?
Generally, yes as long as they are at least 5 years old.
The U.S. Department of Transportation estimates 7 million children fly as unaccompanied minors each year.
The department doesn’t set the rules. That’s up to individual airlines, but the agency does have a list of things to tell your child beforehand.
Their first suggestion is one that may be considered obvious — don’t leave the airport unaccompanied or with a stranger. Instead, seek out a uniformed airline employee or airport police.
Also, tell your child to talk to a flight attendant if someone seated nearby makes them feel unsafe and explain where the call button is. Tell them about how their ears might feel on take off and landing due to pressure changes — swallow or yawn several times, or chew gum.
There are also weird sounds from engines throttling up, wings moving during the flight, the ‘thump’ of the landing gear locking or the roar of the thrust reversers just after touchdown.
Recommended items to bring:
Snacks, games, books or other entertainment
A single, small carry-on like a backpack, so nothing’s left behind
A checked suitcase for larger items, which your child and accompanying adult can pick up after their flight
An ID card contact information attached to your child’s carry-on bag or jacket
Columbia Metropolitan Airport is serviced by American, Delta, United and limited service by Allegiant and Spirit.
Allegiant does not have an unaccompanied minors program.
Here are the rules from the other airlines.
American
Children aged 5 to 14 traveling alone must use the unaccompanied minor service. It’s optional for teens aged 15 – 17. Children 2-14 can travel with someone who is at least 16.
It costs $150 each way, plus applicable taxes, in addition to the ticket price.
The service includes:
Early boarding
Kids-only lounges in our hub cities
An airport escort to the gate for flight connections
Escort to the authorized adult picking them up
Children cannot travel alone when their trips include flights on another airline or transfer from one local airport to another or if it’s the last flight of the day from the final connection city or overnight connecting flights.
Tickets for unaccompanied minors must be booked by phone.
Once you’re at the airport you’ll fill out an unaccompanied minor form and provide a birth certificate or passport as proof of the child’s age, your government-issued photo ID with their current address, your phone number and the name, address and phone number of the adult meeting your child.
Delta
Delta requires children younger than 4 years old to be accompanied by someone 18 years old or older. Children 5-7 may travel on some nonstop flights and 8-14 on some flights. Teens 15-17 can travel independently but if a parent wants to use the unaccompanied minor program they can. The fee for each age is $150, which includes up to four siblings.
Reservations must be made by phone at 800-325-8847 and will get a 4-digit PIN required to make any changes.
Delta requires the same documents at check in as American and requires someone to take the child to the gate and stay until the plane takes off.
Delta recommends that children be seated in the rear of the aircraft to be near a flight attendant for safety.
Delta requires a valid ID and signature of the person meeting the child. The pickup person will typically be issued a gate pass to pick up the child.
Like American, Delta’s fee is $150.
United
United allows minor tickets to be booked online at united.com, where you can also tell the airline who is dropping off and picking up.
The airline will select their seats within 72 hours after you finish booking.
Check in at the ticket counter to verify information and give them a wristband and envelope for their travel documents.
You can go to the gate and are asked to stay until the plane takes off.
Kids board first and United allows them to meet the pilots before being shown to their seats.
“We recommend you pack snacks for your kids, as long as they meet TSA guidelines. They’ll also get one free snack on the plane,” United says on its website. “What your kids can watch is different for each flight. The United app also has free kids shows and movies.”
Spirit
Children aged 10 through 14 years old can travel alone on direct domestic flights, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands for a fee of $150. Children younger than 10 may travel with someone at least 15.
Unaccompanied minors are not permitted to travel internationally.
They will get a snack and drink.
Similar guidelines for pickup and drop off information apply and an unaccompanied minor form must be filled out at the airport. Arrive at the ticket counter at least 60 minutes before departure.
Escort the child to the gate, and stay in the gate area until at least 15 minutes after the flight takes off.
A Spirit gate agent will introduce your child to the flight attendant and will be boarded first. If the child arrives late they will be boarded last. They will also escort the child to the pick up person at the gate.