Anonymous wrote:When we asked about this (two airlines, a TSA employee friend, an FAA employee friend) the answer was: it depends.
Each airline has a different policy, and the ask you to deal with the ticketing agent. Some will give a pass for a good reason, others will require you to purchase an unaccompanied minor pass for a child ($150 each way) so that am employee walks them to and fro. In the end we were not willing to pay $300 and we were not willing to wing it depending on the mood and company policy knowledge of any given employee on any given day, so we didn't let our kid fly alone yet.
Southwest's unaccompanied minor pass is $50 each way, and they always issue a gate pass for the parent (and require the names of two people who are authorized to pick the child up at the other end). The $50 fee is for them taking care of the child on the plane.