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Individual Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Information
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Southwest
Policies for Children Traveling Alone
Southwest strives to provide the best possible service to our Unaccompanied Minors. For this reason, we have special policies and requirements for children between the ages of five and eleven who are traveling without an accompanying adult.
Unaccompanied children between the ages of five and eleven may travel on Southwest Airlines provided the child has a confirmed reservation and the flight on which he/she travels does not require a change of aircraft or flight number. Proof of age may be required, so be sure to bring the child's birth certificate or other valid identification that shows the child's date of birth. Children under the age of five must be accompanied throughout their trip by a Customer twelve years of age or older. Children who are 12 years of age or older travel under the same policies and terms as adults. Southwest Airlines will be unable to transport Unaccompanied Minors on flights anticipated to terminate short of or bypass the child's destination due to weather or other operational situations. Southwest Airlines personnel are not permitted to take children home or remain with them overnight in a hotel. If the child is not met and the adult sending the child cannot be reached, or if the child cannot be returned to the originating city at the sending adult's expense, the child will be turned over to the custody of the welfare department or local police.
These policies apply on Southwest Airlines only. Other airlines may have different policies and procedures.
Procedures for Children Traveling Alone
Reservations:
When making reservations for a child between the ages of five and eleven who will be traveling unaccompanied, identify the child to the Reservations Sales Agent as an "Unaccompanied Minor" and provide the child's age. If the child is traveling on a Rapid Rewards Award, identify the child to the Reservations Sales Agent as an "Unaccompanied Minor," notify the Agent that the child will be traveling on an Award and provide the child's age. Make the child's reservation on a flight that does not require a change of planes or flight number. Southwest will not transport Unaccompanied Minors on connecting flights and does not have an interline agreement (exchange passengers, tickets, and/or baggage) with other airlines. Once your child's reservation has been made, be sure to provide all flight information to the person who will be meeting your child at his/her destination. Remember that some cities are served by more than one airport, so make sure the flight information you have is complete.
Before Arriving at the Airport:
ALWAYS check the Travel Center on southwest.com to view the Suggested Airport Arrival Times. This will help you determine how far in advance to arrive at the airport prior to your child's flight. This allows time to check any luggage, complete required paperwork, clear security screening, receive your child's boarding pass, and preboard. Both the dropping off and receiving party should follow the Suggested Airport Arrival Times in order to allow time to obtain an "escort pass," which grants access through security checkpoint to deliver or meet the child at the aircraft's Gate. A federally-sponsored identity verification process at the ticket counter is required before issuing an "escort pass." Make sure that you find out EXACTLY who will be meeting your child upon arrival at his/her destination. Collect the name, address, and telephone number (including area codes), as well as the information for an alternate contact. You will be required to provide this information to Southwest upon checking in for your child's flight (proof of age for your child may also be required). Be sure to advise the receiving party to follow the Suggested Airport Arrival Times to allow sufficient time to obtain an "escort pass," which grants access through security checkpoint to meet the child. A federally-sponsored identity verification process at the ticket counter is required to issue an "escort pass."
At the Airport:
When checking in your child for his/her flight, be sure to identify him/her to the Customer Service Agent as an "Unaccompanied Minor." You will be given an Unaccompanied Minor form to complete. View Unaccompanied Minor form in PDF format. Make sure that the flight information matches that shown on your child's ticket and that the correct airport and flight number are specified. You will be required to provide the name, address, and telephone number (including area codes) of the person picking up your child, as well as the information for an alternate contact. REMEMBER, ALL ITEMS ON THE UNACCOMPANIED MINOR FORM MUST BE COMPLETED BEFORE YOUR CHILD WILL BE ACCEPTED. The Unaccompanied Minor form will be inserted in the Unaccompanied Minor lanyard and must be worn by the child throughout the entire flight and is needed for Southwest Airlines Employees to identify Unaccompanied Minors. Upon arrival at the final destination, your child will be released ONLY to the person specified on the Unaccompanied Minor form (or to the alternate contact specified on the form). IDENTIFICATION WILL BE REQUIRED. When you arrive at the airport, checkin at the "main lobby" Ticket Counter to check luggage. You may pay for the child's ticket, fill out the Unaccompanied Minor form, receive a Boarding Pass, and a pass for you to accompany your child through the security checkpoint and to the gate area. Once you arrive at the departure gate, be sure to identify your child to the Customer Service Agent as an "Unaccompanied Minor" so that he/she will be able to preboard. If you have already purchased your child's ticket and he/she has no luggage to check, you must obtain a pass at the Ticket Counter to accompany your child through security and to the gate area. While at the Ticket Counter, you may also check in for the flight, fill out the Unaccompanied Minor form, and receive your child's Boarding Pass. YOUR CHILD MUST HAVE A BOARDING PASS TO BOARD THE AIRCRAFT. Please note that Unaccompanied Minors are unable to check in at an E-Ticket Check-In kiosk. If you check luggage, make sure that the baggage claim ticket and baggage tag match your child's final destination (ending city of the journey). Verify with your child that the luggage claim tickets match the tags on the luggage and that the final destination is on these tags. Ensure that the claim ticket will be easily located when the child arrives at his/her final destination. Airline passengers may now carry only one bag plus one smaller, personal-type item onboard the airplane.
Bag dimensions are limited to 10x16x24 inches. Personal-type items include backpacks, cameras, CD and DVD players, food containers, or toys. Assistive devices for qualified Customers with disabilities will not be considered carryon or personal items and may be brought onboard the flight in addition to the above. Upon arrival at the gate, you will be directed to a "preboard area" to await boarding of your child's flight. Your child will be escorted onto the aircraft by a Southwest Airlines Agent before general boarding begins and will be identified to the Flight Attendant as an Unaccompanied Minor. Unaccompanied children who arrive at the departure gate after boarding has begun will be escorted onto the aircraft AFTER all other Customers have boarded. This is to ensure proper identification to the Flight Attendant who will be responsible for the child's care during flight. You are required to stay with the child until he/she is boarded and to remain in the departure gate area until the flight is airborne.
At the Final Destination:
The person meeting the child should heed the recommended checkin requirements for the arrival city. A federally-sponsored identity verification process is required to receive an "escort pass" to proceed through security checkpoint to meet the child. Unaccompanied children will be escorted from the aircraft by a Flight Attendant and released only to the person named on the Unaccompanied Minor form or another designated Southwest Airlines Employee. When picking up your child, the person named on the Unaccompanied Minor form will be required to produce valid photo identification and sign a release. In some cases, there may be a brief wait in receiving the child due to Southwest personnel being engaged in the release of other unaccompanied children or the departure of another aircraft. Southwest Airlines hopes you will understand that the time spent is for the safety of your unaccompanied child.
Tips for Children Traveling Alone
Southwest Airlines is dedicated to making flying an exciting and enjoyable experience for the younger traveler. The following hints are designed to help make a child's journey fun, safe, and memorable.
Be sure to explain to your child that he/she should NEVER LEAVE THE AIRPORT ALONE OR WITH A STRANGER. If the child is in need of assistance, he/she should be instructed to go ONLY to uniformed Southwest Airlines Employees or airport police. Be sure your child knows that in the event of an emergency, he/she should not wait in line to ask for Employee assistance and should notify a uniformed Southwest Airlines Employee as soon as possible. When traveling unaccompanied, your child should carry identification (proof of age) and a small amount of cash for emergencies. Southwest Airlines will assist the child in contacting individuals named on the Unaccompanied Minor form. We recommend providing your child with money for phone calls and other incidentals. Explain to your child that he/she should await the assistance of a Flight Attendant before deplaning. The Flight Attendant will assist the child in locating the person named on the Unaccompanied Minor form. Remind your child to check to see that all personal items have been gathered before deplaning. Southwest is not liable for carryon items left onboard. The loss of any item should be reported to a Flight Attendant or other uniformed Southwest Airlines personnel. Provide entertainment for the child to enjoy during travel. Books, small games, etc., often help to make the child more comfortable. Earphone-style cassette, CD, and DVD players may be used; however, radios may not be operated during flight. Please note that all cellular phones must be turned off for the duration of a flight. Your child may also ask the Flight Attendant for an Activity Book from the onboard Entertainment Kit. Southwest Airlines does not serve meals on its flights. Complimentary soft drinks and juices are served on all flights, and peanuts or other snack items are available on selected flights. If your child has special dietary needs or is traveling on a very long flight, you may wish to pack a special snack for him/her to enjoy.
Contact
Southwest Airlines
P.O. Box 36647 - 1CR
Dallas, Texas 75235-1647
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