JetBlue Airways Unaccompanied Minor Policy Complete Guide

JetBlue Airways Unaccompanied Minor Policy Complete Guide

Traveling with kids is quite challenging for parents and it needs lots of effort to tackle them during the course of journey. The challenges though are different when a kid has to travel alone without the company of a known person. This makes parents worrisome and nervous. Sometimes flights for kids are required to be arranged for traveling on their own. This may be due to various reasons, including attending school, visiting grandparents, fulfilling visitation requirements in split families, or for some other reasons. For booking a solo air travel for your child you therefore need to know the unaccompanied minor policy of the airline through which travel is to be made.

Each airline has its own rules and regulations for children traveling alone. Let’s take a look at JetBlue Airways unaccompanied minor policy. Knowing it beforehand prior to booking your child’s flight will undoubtedly be convenient and hassle-free.

Who is “Unaccompanied Minor” as per JetBlue Airways rules?

As per JetBlue Airways children flying alone rule the children aged between 5 years and under 14 years old who will be traveling alone without the company of an adult passenger are considered as “unaccompanied minors”. The child who will be traveling alone must have reached fifth birthday by the date of travel for being eligible as an unaccompanied minor. JetBlue Airways will however no longer consider a child as unaccompanied minor who has reached his/her fourteenth birthday at the time of travel, and will be treated as an adult passenger. The airline will provide additional assistance for such passengers when requested.

The unaccompanied minors will be allowed to make reservations for traveling on nonstop JetBlue Airways-operated flights only. The airline will also allow up to three unaccompanied minors per nonstop flight. The airline will however not permit unaccompanied minors to travel on connecting flights or direct flights (a flight that makes a stop but doesn’t require a change of aircraft). The unaccompanied minors will also not be provided any escort by JetBlue Airways to flights connecting with other airlines. The unaccompanied minors are also not allowed on JetBlue Airways bookings with other airlines. The unaccompanied minor’s parent or legal guardian will be responsible for any transfer of their child from JetBlue Airways to other airlines.

For international travel, special documentation is required by every country, such as a notarized letter, stating that the unaccompanied minor has permission to fly alone. In case of international travel, the parent or legal guardian of unaccompanied minors is recommended to contact the nearest embassy/consulate for further details.

For more information on booking flights for children traveling alone, parents or a legal guardian can always call Fond Travels at +1-(571)-389-6426 to book JetBlue Airways for their unaccompanied minor.

What is JetBlue Airways unaccompanied minor booking process and fee?

JetBlue Airways minor flight booking can be done by visiting the airline’s official website or by calling the reservations department clearly specifying that the flight being booked will be for unaccompanied minor, who is between 5 years and 13 years old. JetBlue Airways unaccompanied minor fee to be paid at the time of booking will be $150 each way per passenger. The fee will be in addition to the flight tickets price of the child, and will be automatically charged when making reservations. The parent or legal guardian will have to provide the information for both the person dropping off and picking up the child, which includes name, address and phone number (as provided on government issued ID).

JetBlue Airways takes adequate measures to guarantee safety by limiting the number of unaccompanied minors booked on each flight to a total of three. The airline doesn’t allow unaccompanied minors to be seated in Mint or Even More Space seats, but they are instead seated at the back of the aircraft as an additional safety precaution, and that they are assisted by flight attendants whenever needed.

What documents and identification are required for unaccompanied minor travel?

The parent or legal guardian of child flying alone will be required to fill out the Unaccompanied Minor Form available online and must be submitted prior to travel. Three copies of the completed unaccompanied minor form for each flight need to be printed and brought to the airport. The unaccompanied minor form must have the name of the person dropping off and picking up the child listed as appearing on the government-issued photo ID.

The following are the drop-off and pick-up requirements by the unaccompanied minor’s parent or legal guardian:

• Government-issued photo ID needed for both persons dropping off and picking up the unaccompanied minor. JetBlue Airways won’t allow the unaccompanied minor to board the flight without the guardian’s photo ID
• Non-travelling adult dropping off or picking up the unaccompanied minor must be of at least 18 year old, and must have a valid photo ID as listed in the unaccompanied minor form
• Gate passes will be issued on the security recommendation and discretion of TSA, but it isn’t guaranteed. The availability of gate pass can be checked at the JetBlue Airways airport ticket counter
• The parent or legal guardian dropping off the unaccompanied minor must remain at the airport till the time the child has boarded the aircraft and the flight has departed and is airborne. The presence of parent or legal guardian will be required in case of a gate return or other delay. The parent or legal guardian may be contacted by a JetBlue Airways flight attendant in the event of a gate return so that he/she can meet the unaccompanied minor

JetBlue Airways COVID-19 rules

According to JetBlue Airways COVID-19 rules, the passengers aged 2 years and older must wear a mask covering their nose and mouth during the entire duration of travel, including during check-in, boarding, on the aircraft, while de-boarding and in the terminal except at the time of eating or drinking. The passengers under 2 years of age are exempted from wearing any mask or face-covering. The airline doesn’t allow masks with exhalation valves or vents.

JetBlue Airways also restricts the passengers from using certain recreational items and personal protective equipment on all flights. These include masks connected to tubing or battery-operated filters, personal air purifiers/refreshers or ozone generators, personal face/body pods or tents, or any other device that could put others at risk and is prohibited by federal regulation. The passengers are however allowed by JetBlue Airways to wear plastic face shields in addition to a mask but not in place of one. The airline however strongly recommends postponing of travel by those passengers with medical conditions preventing them from wearing a mask. Refusal to wear a mask by passengers other than those stated may result in denied boarding or even a permanent ban on future JetBlue Airways-operated flights.

Helpful tips for parent/legal guardian and unaccompanied minor

• Obtain a gate pass at the JetBlue Airways airport ticket counter for accompanying your child through the TSA security checkpoint. Don’t bring other children at the airport as the gate pass allows entry to only one person
• You or your child shouldn’t carry a prohibited item at the airport. This is important for minimizing frustrations at the TSA security checkpoint
• Give sufficient time to yourself and the child. Reach the airport early as you have to spend time filling out the Unaccompanied Minor Form, which is mandatory for your child’s travel
• Provide your cell phone number to the gate agent before leaving the airport. It may be needed in case the plane has to return to the airport for any reason and you may have to meet the child
• Most countries need a notarized authorization signed by both parents to be carried by minor children for international travel. Additional regulations may apply if one parent has sole custody
• When traveling on a direct flight stopping at one or more intermediate airports, the unaccompanied minor must remain on board the aircraft with the in-flight crew
• The parent or legal guardian should avoid booking a connection to another airline as JetBlue Airways doesn’t provide an escort or any kind of assistance to the next gate. Before booking the itinerary it’s important for you to speak with a JetBlue Airways representative. When booking a connection to another airline a responsible adult may be needed to meet the unaccompanied minor at the end of the JetBlue leg of the trip
• JetBlue Airways doesn’t provide in-flight food for free, and must be purchased when needed. Do remember to pack snacks for unaccompanied minor in case he/she may need it when feeling hungry

Also, read our blog Qatar Airways Unaccompanied Minor Policy .