Delta Airlines Doubles unaccompanied minor fee to $100 per connection, each way. Atlanta Georgia
As of April 1 2008, Delta Airlines raised their unaccompanied minor fee from $50 to $100 for each connection, each way. All Delta does is make sure a parent/guardian checks them in on departure, puts a badge on them, preboards them, and makes sure there is an authorized parent/guardian at the destination to pick them up. It's not like they actually do anything over and above their usual in-flight service. It was a rip off at $50 and is insane at $100! The UM fees can easily add up to more than the roundtrip air fare.
Southwest Airlines does not charge a UM fee, and on top of that, they pre-board UM's and let them talk to the pilot and a flight attendent about what to expect and answer questions. Southwest services all the large metropolitan areas that Delta does, but overall does not service quite as many airports nationwide. I saved $150 booking with Southwest over what Delta charged for the same flight. Southwest does more for no charge than Delta does for an exorbitant charge.
Send Delta a message, fly with their competitors that don't charge unaccompanied minor fees, or have minimal charges.
Brian
Sacramento, California
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Kevin
Manassas,Virginia,
U.S.A.
You're right Karl, but
#4Consumer Comment
Tue, July 15, 2008
It won't be too long before Southwest makes these same charges. Southwest does have to use fuel, but their policy of stockpiling fuel has helped them delay this. The stockpile will run out, and when it does, Southwest will be in the same boat as every other airline since they'll have to buy more. And how will they pay for ridcously expensive fuel? They'll be forced to make the same charges. And even with these extra charges, most airlines are losing money.
Unless something is done about the fuel crisis, the entire airline industry will go down within the next 20 years. And don't even try to say Southwest is the only airline that cares about its customers. Jetblue usually gets higher customer satisfaction than Southwest and Continental is often very close to Southwest in terms of customer satisfation. And the asian airlines are all supposidly much better than all of their american counter parts.
Karl
Clovis,New Mexico,
U.S.A.
Southwest Uses Fuel As Well
#4Consumer Suggestion
Thu, May 22, 2008
Southwest also doesn't charge $15 for the first checked bag and $25 for the second one like American or as the writer said - charge for Unaccompanied Minors. I've stopped using any airline except Southwest and I hope everybody does. Everyone else has gone downhill. Southwest always stays the same -it is a great way to get to your destination. Perhaps it is because Southwest actually wants passengers. Nobody else seems to and the excess ridiculous charges simply drive them away.
Dmc21487
Columbus,Ohio,
U.S.A.
don't exaggerate
#4UPDATE Employee
Wed, May 07, 2008
It isn't $100 per flight, it's $100 each way.
It is definitely expensive, and if oil prices weren't what they are now, you probably wouldn't have seen any change, but don't exaggerate it.