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busymomonli
Resident Insomniac
Member since 4/13 2052 total posts
Name:
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Unaccompanied Minor Fees
I'm so frustrated. I'm trying to send my son this summer to visit his friend in OH. The only airlines I can find that fly direct from around here are American and Delta and both charge $150 unaccompanied minor fee EACH WAY. The ticket round trip is $250. He is 14 and could really handle the trip gate to gate without a parent. The only airline I can find that won't consider him a minor is Southwest but they don't fly direct. FML! I don't want him sitting waiting for a layover by himself.
Am I missing something or does that seem really unreasonable?? Is there any way around this?
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Posted 5/3/17 1:12 PM  |
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Long Island Weddings
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ali120206
2 Boys
Member since 7/06 17795 total posts
Name:
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Unaccompanied Minor Fees
It does seem unreasonable but, airlines are a bit money hungry.
It sounds like it would be cheaper for you to go with him!
ETA - United charges the same fee.
Message edited 5/3/2017 1:59:43 PM.
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| Posted 5/3/17 1:18 PM |
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Laura1976
Member since 5/05 5754 total posts
Name:
Laura
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Re: Unaccompanied Minor Fees
It seems like a lot but at the same time depending on which terminal you are in, sometimes it can be a bit daunting getting to the gate, I'd feel better having someone accompanying my kid.
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| Posted 5/3/17 1:21 PM |
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amac27
LIF Toddler
Member since 8/09 471 total posts
Name:
A
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Re: Unaccompanied Minor Fees
My niece has flown to visit us and an unaccompanied minor several times. The reason for the few is that they are assigned a specific flight attendant to monitor them and they require an escort on and off the plane. You are essentially paying for the attendant/ monitor for your child, so no, I don't think it is unreasonable.
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| Posted 5/3/17 1:28 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Unaccompanied Minor Fees
That is insane! My son flew when he was 8 to my mom's in MI. It was a 1 hour 20 minute flight, and I paid like $35. He sat with another child in the front. No flight attendants sit with them. But one of them working the flight would check on them and see if they needed anything. I walked him to the door, my mom picked him up from the door. It's not a 1:1 service.
Message edited 5/3/2017 1:36:46 PM.
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| Posted 5/3/17 1:36 PM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Unaccompanied Minor Fees
I just saw this on Delta
Unaccompanied Minor Tracking
Delta implemented new barcoded wristbands that will be scanned at important points of our Unaccompanied Minor's journey. Scan events support Delta's Unaccompanied Minors policy and are part of a larger effort that will eventually allow customers to have added visibility to their unaccompanied minor’s location while traveling with Delta.
So I'm sure that is expensive to implement.
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| Posted 5/3/17 1:38 PM |
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MsSissy
xoxoxo
Member since 3/07 39159 total posts
Name:
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Re: Unaccompanied Minor Fees
I under stand the reason behind. I don't understand why it's more than your sons ticket!
ETS: But as someone else mentioned. Airlines are money hungry. I hate them all.
Message edited 5/3/2017 1:50:34 PM.
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| Posted 5/3/17 1:50 PM |
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busymomonli
Resident Insomniac
Member since 4/13 2052 total posts
Name:
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Unaccompanied Minor Fees
I do understand why the fee is in place, but think it shouldn't be more than a certain percentage of your ticket price!! And most airlines will allow a parent with a minor all the way to the gate until they board, so they really don't even need to do anything for him. The websites also say that there will not be an attendant with your child the whole time, they will be checked on periodically as business allows. But for $300, someone should hold his hand during the flight!!
It's insane.
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| Posted 5/3/17 3:31 PM |
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evrythng4areason
And then there were 4
Member since 1/10 5224 total posts
Name:
Kayla
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Unaccompanied Minor Fees
I started flying at 14 just on a regular ticket by myself. Does he have to fly as an unaccompanied minor? I used to fly all differs airlines
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| Posted 5/3/17 5:24 PM |
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Xelindrya
Mommy's little YouTube Star!
Member since 8/05 14470 total posts
Name:
Veronica
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Unaccompanied Minor Fees
Is there an option to maybe travel to another city that is a direct flight? Like for us it's a drive to Houston to get more direct flight options or Austin or Dallas. (3hr, 1hr, or 5hr drive). I mean it would at least reduce the cost if you can drive to a city he can fly on SW and get a direct flight on and save the $150 per flight charge possibly?
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| Posted 5/3/17 7:06 PM |
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busymomonli
Resident Insomniac
Member since 4/13 2052 total posts
Name:
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Re: Unaccompanied Minor Fees
Posted by evrythng4areason
I started flying at 14 just on a regular ticket by myself. Does he have to fly as an unaccompanied minor? I used to fly all differs airlines
For those airlines (the ones with the direct flights) he is REQUIRED to travel as an unaccompanied minor.
There are a few airlines where he could fly as a regular ticket, but they all have layovers. And I am not sure I want him sitting in a strange airport for a few hours alone.
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| Posted 5/4/17 7:44 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Unaccompanied Minor Fees
Posted by busymomonli
Posted by evrythng4areason
There are a few airlines where he could fly as a regular ticket, but they all have layovers. And I am not sure I want him sitting in a strange airport for a few hours alone.
[QUOTE/]
No way would I do this to be honest
Message edited 5/4/2017 8:57:25 AM.
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| Posted 5/4/17 8:57 AM |
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MrsDrMatt
Live and RUN like a Ninja!
Member since 5/06 3104 total posts
Name:
MrsDrMatt
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Re: Unaccompanied Minor Fees
I think the $150 each way is a bargain based upon the responsibility the airline has.
Message edited 5/4/2017 9:11:14 AM.
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| Posted 5/4/17 9:10 AM |
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NervousNell
Just another chapter in life..
Member since 11/09 54921 total posts
Name:
..being a mommy and being a wife!
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Re: Unaccompanied Minor Fees
Posted by BargainMama
Posted by busymomonli
Posted by evrythng4areason
There are a few airlines where he could fly as a regular ticket, but they all have layovers. And I am not sure I want him sitting in a strange airport for a few hours alone.
[QUOTE/]
No way would I do this to be honest
I don't even like having layovers as an adult.
No way would I want my unaccompanied kid having one.
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| Posted 5/4/17 9:12 AM |
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busymomonli
Resident Insomniac
Member since 4/13 2052 total posts
Name:
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Re: Unaccompanied Minor Fees
Posted by MrsDrMatt
I think the $150 each way is a bargain based upon the responsibility the airline has.
For a smaller child, YES. Not for a 14 year old on a direct flight.
And I think the fee should not be allowed to exceed a purchase of the ticket price. It costing more than my tickets is ridiculous.
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| Posted 5/4/17 9:14 AM |
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CSK
LIF Adolescent
Member since 9/11 892 total posts
Name:
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Re: Unaccompanied Minor Fees
Posted by busymomonli
I'm so frustrated. I'm trying to send my son this summer to visit his friend in OH. The only airlines I can find that fly direct from around here are American and Delta and both charge $150 unaccompanied minor fee EACH WAY. The ticket round trip is $250. He is 14 and could really handle the trip gate to gate without a parent. The only airline I can find that won't consider him a minor is Southwest but they don't fly direct. FML! I don't want him sitting waiting for a layover by himself.
Am I missing something or does that seem really unreasonable?? Is there any way around this?
I'm more shocked that you found direct to Ohio for $250. I was in and out of Ohio frequently for work flying delta and united and the minimum price I was finding was almost twice that, you wouldn't believe what it costs on less than 14 days notice.
I understand that its a lot of money compared to the ticket cost. However, it is a lot of responsibility on their part and extra handling.
I do find it somewhat odd that for an unaccompanied minor there is a large charge, however when my father gets assistance of a wheelchair from the curb up to the plane and an option of waiting around and on the plane as well there is no charge.
Message edited 5/4/2017 10:33:31 AM.
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| Posted 5/4/17 10:33 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Unaccompanied Minor Fees
Posted by CSK
Posted by busymomonli
I'm so frustrated. I'm trying to send my son this summer to visit his friend in OH. The only airlines I can find that fly direct from around here are American and Delta and both charge $150 unaccompanied minor fee EACH WAY. The ticket round trip is $250. He is 14 and could really handle the trip gate to gate without a parent. The only airline I can find that won't consider him a minor is Southwest but they don't fly direct. FML! I don't want him sitting waiting for a layover by himself.
Am I missing something or does that seem really unreasonable?? Is there any way around this?
I'm more shocked that you found direct to Ohio for $250. I was in and out of Ohio frequently for work flying delta and united and the minimum price I was finding was almost twice that, you wouldn't believe what it costs on less than 14 days notice.
I understand that its a lot of money compared to the ticket cost. However, it is a lot of responsibility on their part and extra handling.
I do find it somewhat odd that for an unaccompanied minor there is a large charge, however when my father gets assistance of a wheelchair from the curb up to the plane and an option of waiting around and on the plane as well there is no charge.
Interesting point. I think it's because it falls under the disabilities act though.
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| Posted 5/4/17 12:44 PM |
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MissJones
I need a nap!
Member since 5/05 22150 total posts
Name:
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Unaccompanied Minor Fees
Better to pay$100 than say I should have spent the$100. Jmo.
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| Posted 5/4/17 6:09 PM |
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skew
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 6794 total posts
Name:
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Re: Unaccompanied Minor Fees
Posted by MrsDrMatt
I think the $150 each way is a bargain based upon the responsibility the airline has.
Except in the case that they neglect to fulfill their responsibility, forgets about the unaccompanied minor and the child deplanes solo.
It happened to my 11 yr old niece recently. Thankfully the parents were waiting at the gate to meet her.
The parents were contacted, apologies were giving, the flight attendant was suspended. The cost of said flight and fees were reimbursed and 2 round trip vouchers were giving to the entire family for future travel.
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| Posted 5/5/17 9:34 AM |
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BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
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Re: Unaccompanied Minor Fees
Posted by skew
Posted by MrsDrMatt
I think the $150 each way is a bargain based upon the responsibility the airline has.
Except in the case that they neglect to fulfill their responsibility, forgets about the unaccompanied minor and the child deplanes solo.
It happened to my 11 yr old niece recently. Thankfully the parents were waiting at the gate to meet her.
The parents were contacted, apologies were giving, the flight attendant was suspended. The cost of said flight and fees were reimbursed and 2 round trip vouchers were giving to the entire family for future travel.
Yikes!!
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| Posted 5/5/17 9:36 AM |
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