There are many reasons why your cute little one might have to fly alone as an unaccompanied minor. As a parent, you feel useless and stressed when things like this happen. If there’s an emergency, you have no choice but to stay on the ground while your young child has to travel alone without a known friend on board the trip.
The child’s safety and well-being are the most important things for parents or legal guardians to think about. But if your child is going alone with Alaska Airlines, this shouldn’t worry you at all. Alaska Airlines’ strong policy for unaccompanied child flights has rules that will make you feel better in every way. Let’s look at Alaska Airlines’ rules and laws for unaccompanied minors and see what it has to offer.
Who is Unaccompanied Minor by Alaska Airlines?
Alaska Airlines’ “Junior Jetsetters” program is for kids ages 5 to 17 who will be flying alone, without a known passenger on board, to either a domestic or international destination. Alaska Airlines treats these kids as unaccompanied minors, and its Junior Jetsetters program charges a fee for service to unaccompanied minors. The child is cared for and watched over at all times by Alaska Airlines staff at the airport and flight workers on board the plane.
Under the Junior Jetsetters program, a child who is traveling alone gets a lanyard and a trackable wristband to wear on the flight so that Alaska Airlines agents and flight staff can easily find the child. Before the flight takes off, flight attendants will give unaccompanied children a special safety briefing and let them board early so they can settle into their seats.
What is Alaska Airlines’ Minimum Age Requirement for Unaccompanied Minor Travel?
Alaska Airlines offers flights for children ages 5 to 12 who are not accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or adult passenger older than 18 years old. Young children between the ages of 13 and 17 who are traveling without a parent, legal guardian, or adult passenger 18 years of age or older are not required to utilize the airline’s unaccompanied minor service.
Upon parental request and payment of a fee, Alaska Airlines will provide unaccompanied minor service to juveniles ages 13 to 17 who are between the ages of 13 and 17. If such children wish to connect to another airline and are traveling unaccompanied, they will do so under the Junior Jetsetters program of Alaska Airlines. All applicable rules and fees will apply to both Alaska Airlines and the connecting airline.
Additionally, an adult must meet the minors at their connection point in order to complete the transfer to the other airline. The flight restrictions that apply to the youngest child will also apply to all other children traveling together, even those who have not requested the Junior Jetsetter service. For the safety of the infant, valid proof of age, such as a passport or birth certificate, may be required at airport check-in.
Unaccompanied Minor Service Fee
Alaska Airlines’ unaccompanied minor surcharge for children ages 5 to 7 is $50 one-way per child. The minors will only be permitted to fly on nonstop or direct flights. However, they will not be permitted to travel between the hours of 9 pm and 5 am and will require Junior Jetsetter service. Additionally, guard and gate escort contact will be required.
The unaccompanied minor service fee will be $50 each way per child for continuous or direct flights and $75 each way per child for connecting flights for unaccompanied minors aged 8 to 12 years old. Junior Jetsetter juvenile service and guardian and gate escort contact are additional requirements. They will not be permitted to travel between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., nor will they be permitted connections to the day’s final flight or layovers of more than 2 hours unless there is no other option.
The Junior Jetsetter minor service for youths between the ages of 13 and 17 will be voluntary. However, if they require unaccompanied minor service, they will be subject to the same fees, conditions, and restrictions as 8 to 12-year-olds.
There are, however, essential considerations regarding these fees and restrictions. These are subsequent:
- Children who achieve Gold 75K Mileage Plan, MVP Gold, or MVP status are exempt from paying unaccompanied minor fees.
- For Mexico travel, Alaska Airlines ticket and fee payments must be made exclusively in Mexican Pesos or by credit card/debit card.
- Other airlines may have different age restrictions, surcharges, and policies regarding unaccompanied minors than Alaska Airlines. Some airlines may prohibit the booking of unaccompanied juveniles in the same reservation as Alaska Airlines flights. If the child’s itinerary includes non-Alaska Airlines flights, you will need to contact the other airline directly to determine their age restrictions, surcharges, and policy requirements.
- Also, Check out Alaska Airlines Name Correction Policy.
How to Book Alaska Airlines Flights for Unaccompanied Minors?
Online reservations for unaccompanied minor flights on Alaska Airlines can be made by visiting the airline’s website or by contacting Alaska Airlines Reservations. Call the Alaska Airlines Help Centre and clearly state that you wish to book Alaska Airlines flights and are seeking Junior Jetsetter service for your child if you are seeking convenience and hassle-free reservations. After receiving proof of age and other travel information for the minor, they will book the flights for you.
Before deciding to purchase a ticket for your child, you must adhere to certain restrictions and guidelines. The subsequent restrictions apply:
- Due to the safety and security of children traveling alone without an adult passenger, Alaska Airlines limits the number of unaccompanied children on each flight.
- Flights departing between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. will not permit unaccompanied children to be booked.
- Unless there is no other option, unaccompanied children will not be permitted to travel on the final connecting flight of the day.
- Children age 5 to 7 who travel alone will not be permitted to board flights with connections or transfers.
- Children age 8 to 12 traveling alone may be booked on flights with connections or transfers to flights operated by Alaska Airlines, Ravn Alaska, PenAir, Horizon Air, or SkyWest Flight Series 3300-3499.
- Unaccompanied minors will not be permitted to board flights with connections that require at least two hours of waiting time. Only if the city does not offer connections of less than two hours will connections of more than two hours be permitted.
- Online scheduling through the Alaska Airlines website is not permitted for flights connecting to or departing from other airlines. You will need to contact the Alaska Airlines reservations department for more information.
- At the airport, unaccompanied minors may be subject to seat reassignment.
- A parent or legal guardian must procure an escort pass from the airport ticket counter in order to accompany an unaccompanied minor to and from the gate. Up to two adults and all children younger than 13 years old may accompany the unaccompanied minor through the security checkpoint.
- The parent or guardian dropping off an unaccompanied minor must remain in the boarding area until after the flight has taken off and is airborne.
- When picking up an unaccompanied minor at the destination airport, the parent or legal guardian must present a valid government-issued photo identification. Additionally, the child will only be released to the individual listed on the guardian contact form.
Unaccompanied Minor COVID-19 Rules By Alaska Airlines
Due to COVID-19 concerns, Alaska Airlines has announced certain guidelines for unaccompanied juveniles. According to Alaska Airlines’ COVID-19 rules for unaccompanied minors, children traveling alone are permitted to join flights.
However, the airline mandates all passengers, including unaccompanied minors, airport personnel, and flight attendants, to wear masks at all times, whether at the airport or on board the aircraft. The refusal to wear a face mask will be considered a violation of COVID-19 safety regulations, and boarding will be denied.
As an additional precaution, unaccompanied minors are presently not provided with entertainment tablets or meals on any of its flights. The child’s parent must also ensure that he or she carries an empty water container that will be filled after passing through security.
In addition, the infant should be provided with sufficient snacks and meals throughout the duration of the flight. Alaska Airlines requires passengers to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines for safe and comfortable travel.
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