Hey there! I actually went through the process of booking a flight for my niece as an unaccompanied minor with Spirit Airlines earlier this year, so I can definitely share what I learned. My sister couldn’t get time off work, so I offered to help send my niece from Orlando to Detroit to visit her grandparents. I’ll admit, I was a little nervous since it was her first time flying alone, and I wanted to make sure everything went smoothly.
When I booked her ticket on Spirit’s website, I noticed they had a clear section explaining the unaccompanied minor policy. Spirit requires kids between five and fourteen to use their unaccompanied minor service for direct flights only — no connections, which honestly made me feel better. There was an extra service fee that covered supervision throughout the trip, and while it added to the total cost, I thought it was worth every penny for the peace of mind.
At the airport, the Spirit staff were great. They checked her in, gave her a special lanyard with her travel info, and let me stay with her at the gate until she boarded. I also had to bring a photo ID and fill out a form with her grandparents’ details for pickup. Once she landed, the airline called to confirm she’d been met by the right person, which was such a relief.
From that experience, I’d say Spirit’s unaccompanied minor process is well-organized and very parent-friendly — just make sure you read the guidelines carefully and arrive early. It made what could have been a stressful day surprisingly easy, and my niece actually loved her “solo” adventure!
