Spirit Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Flight Policies and Fees

The very thought of your cute, little one flying all alone makes every parent scary and nervous. But, one just can’t help whenever such an unavoidable situation occurs. You will after all have to allow your child to fly to the destination with a heavy heart and prayers on your lips of a safe and secure journey without any hassles whatsoever.

Does your child need to fly solo with Spirit Airlines? If it is so then you can surely trust on the leading ultra-low-cost carrier to help your child reach safely. To make things easier you just need to know about  Spirit Airlines unaccompanied minor policy. Knowing beforehand regarding specific rules, fees and certain restrictions related to unaccompanied minors will put you in good stead.

Who is ‘Unaccompanied Minor’ as per Spirit Airlines?

Spirit Airlines treat those children as “Unaccompanied Minor” who are between 5 and 14 years of age and flying alone without being physically accompanied by a known adult passenger on the same flight aged 15 years and above.

Age requirement for unaccompanied minor flying with Spirit Airlines

The children of certain ages are permitted by Spirit Airlines to fly alone on direct flights to domestic destinations, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The airline however doesn’t allow the unaccompanied minor to travel alone on domestic flights requiring a change of aircraft, connecting flights, or international flights. Spirit Airlines takes every step to take care of unaccompanied minors on board the aircraft and keeps them entertained with snacks and drinks.

The age requirements for unaccompanied minors flying with Spirit Airlines are the following:

4 Years and Younger: Spirit Airlines doesn’t allow children who are aged 4 years and younger to fly alone. Even if such children are required to fly then they must be physically accompanied by a passenger of at least 15 years onboard the flights. The airline treats such children too young for traveling through the airport on their own.

5-14 Years: Spirit Airlines allows children aged between 5 and 14 years to fly alone as unaccompanied minors even when an adult passenger of 15 years and above is not physically accompanying them on board the flight.

15 Years and Older: Spirit Airlines allows children who are of 15 years and above to fly alone without requiring them to apply for the airline’s unaccompanied minor service. The airline may however provide unaccompanied minor services to such children whenever asked for by their parent or legal guardian. The children aged 15 years and above will be required to provide a birth certificate or photo ID for verifying their age whenever needed by the airline.

It may be noted that Spirit Airlines strictly prohibits unaccompanied minors from boarding international flights, connecting flights, or domestic flights that require an aircraft change. The unaccompanied minors are accepted by the airline on direct domestic flights only (including Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands).

Spirit Airlines Unaccompanied Minor Fee

Spirit Airlines charges $100 as an unaccompanied minor service fee per passenger each way. The charges also include snacks and drinks to be served to the child on board the flight. The unaccompanied minor service fee for a roundtrip flight is $200 (for a two-way flight). The service fee for unaccompanied minors is extra and is paid additionally to the passenger’s flight tickets.

Spirit Airlines Unaccompanied Minors Booking Process

The unaccompanied minor flight reservation with Spirit Airlines can be done by phone or online by visiting the airline’s official website or mobile app. The booking process is easy. The parent or guardian of the child needs to provide information about date of birth and fill up the necessary details about the child asked by the airline. After this, the child’s status will be displayed stating about the eligibility of being an unaccompanied minor or not. In case of unaccompanied minor status, the airline will provide a breakdown fee, which is to be accepted by the parent if the child is to travel alone and unaccompanied minor service is required. As already stated, the unaccompanied minor fee is $100 per passenger each way and $200 per passenger for a roundtrip flight.

Alternatively, unaccompanied minor reservations with Spirit Airlines can be made on phone. For this, you need to call Spirit Airlines live person or through Fond Travels spirit agent +1-571-389-6426 to complete hassle-free booking.

Spirit Airlines unaccompanied minor boarding and pickup process

Check-in: The parent or legal guardian of unaccompanied minor is recommended to reach the airport with the child for check-in at least one hour before the departure of Spirit Airlines flight. For check-in the parent needs to fill up Unaccompanied Minor Form along with providing a photo ID for the child to be accepted for travel. The filled out form is required to be inserted into the lanyard and worn by the child during the whole journey so that the unaccompanied minor is easily identified by Spirit Airlines crew members on board the flight.

To avoid hassle at the airport, it is recommended that the parent along with the unaccompanied minor should be present at the check-in area at least 90 minutes before the departure of the flight. Also, the accompanying parent at the airport for check-in should possess a government-issued photo ID, and obtain a gate pass for getting through the security and reach the gate for the boarding of unaccompanied minor. The parent should also make sure that he/she should remain at the airport until the flight finally takes off.

Boarding: Spirit Airlines allows the unaccompanied minors to enter the aircraft during pre-boarding so that the boarding process is less stressful for them. The parent should make sure that the unaccompanied minor reaches for pre-boarding on time or else they will be the last to board the aircraft when arriving late. Reaching the airport early is therefore important to ensure that boarding is timely and your child is spared from unnecessary difficulties.

Departure: The parent who has come to the airport to drop the unaccompanied minor should make sure that he/she remains at the airport itself for at least 15 minutes after the flight’s departure. The parent’s presence is necessary at the airport as just in case if the aircraft runs into technical malfunction failing to take off and forced to return to the gate.

Arrival and Pickup: After Spirit Airlines flight reaches its final destination, a flight attendant escorts the unaccompanied minor off the aircraft and the child is handed over to a Spirit Airlines employee or an authorized person for pickup as assigned on the Unaccompanied Minor Form. The person coming to pickup the child at the destination airport should make sure to arrive 30 to 60 minutes before the flight’s arrival in order to complete the pickup process.

Documents needed for unaccompanied minor

Spirit Airlines require that the parent or legal guardian must provide the travel documents of all children no matter whatever their age. The documents include a valid passport as proof of citizenship and visas. In order to prevent the abduction of child, Spirit Airlines may also ask for proof of the relationship between the minor and the passenger accompanying him/her on the flight.

Spirit Airlines Guidelines for Unaccompanied Minor

• Unaccompanied minors can travel alone on direct domestic flights (including the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico)
• Unaccompanied minors will not be allowed to board international flights, connecting flights, or domestic flights requiring an aircraft change
• Unaccompanied minor service is not allowed on international flights
• Children aged 14 and younger are not allowed to travel alone on international flights under any circumstances, and must be accompanied by a passenger aged 15 years and more
• When making a reservation for a child traveling alone the parent need to clearly state that the reservation is for an unaccompanied minor
• The parent should be present with the unaccompanied minor for check-in at the ticket counter at least 60 minutes before departure and fill the Unaccompanied Minor Form. The child will be accepted after providing a photo ID
• The parent coming to the airport to drop off the child at the airport should procure a gate pass at the ticket counter after presenting a government-issued photo ID, reach the unaccompanied minor to the boarding gate, and remain at the airport for at least 15 minutes after the flight’s departure
• The child traveling alone will be allowed pre-boarding in order to be identified as an unaccompanied minor to the flight attendant. If the unaccompanied minor arrives too late for pre-boarding then he/she may be boarded last for being introduced to the flight attendant
• The authorized/designated person for pickup assigned on the Unaccompanied Minor Form should reach the destination airport early, secure a gate pass from the ticket counter, and be present at the gate for flight’s arrival
• The unaccompanied minor will be released only to the authorized person named on the Unaccompanied Minor Form for pickup after presenting a government-issued photo ID

If your child is flying alone with Spirit Airlines then you shouldn’t worry at all. The airline’s unaccompanied minor policy is surely of great help to all the genuinely concerned parents or legal guardians of such unaccompanied minors. Make the most of this beneficial guide when your little sweetheart is expected to fly alone next time without the physical presence of his near and dear ones. Spirit Airlines promises a safe and comfortable flying experience for your minor child.

Also, read Travel Tips for Seniors.

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