legal travel age?

Question

what is the legal age someone can travel without a guardian? on a cruise or even to florida?

Answer 1

It all depends on what type of transport and each company have their own rules.
Also it depends on the time of their journey etc.

For instance, I tried booking my 13 yr old son on the Greyhound bus to travel out of State, unfortunately because the traveling was more than 4 hrs, he was not allowed to travel alone. He had to have some 15 or older with him.

I tried booking a flight for him, and most of the airlines I had trouble with booking online, they requested that I book directly with the airline.
Each airline had their own rules about minimum age and fees that go with him traveling alone. AA charges $75 for the service.
I found one airline (southwest) that allow 11+ to travel alone, no extra fees and they are treated as adults. They must however not change planes to get to their destination.

Cruise ships I believe you have to be 21. Again you need to check with each individual company, as they all have there own rules.

Check under their small prints about unaccompanied children. It usually tells you the limit, and restrictions.

Answer 2

Within the US you can travel at just about any age, the airline gives you a pass that basically says you are an unaccompanied minor (under 18 and alone) and the airline takes has a staff member take you to the gate from basically the chairmen's club/executive hang out area and then they pick you up at the gate where you land until a parent or guardian arrives to pick you up. However in order to leave the country (or go more than 5 miles off shore, (United Nations established borders)) you must have a parent or legal guardian present when you pass through customs and border patrol upon re-entry. Long story short... you can fly in the US no problem. You cannot cruise or fly out without a guardian until you are 18 and you cannot drive out of your home unless you are of legal age and have a state driver's license, then you can drive (in country!) Hope that helps.

Answer 3

Wow - that's a good question. I am 54 now, but I remember when I was 12 years old, they allowed me to travel to New York by Greyhound alone. I know my daughter was about 9 when she flew to California to visit her dad for the summer. All we had to do was make arrangements with the Airline representative on board to watch her and make sure that she got on and off okay. Her dad was there at the gate. That was about 15 years ago.
Needless to say - there are many things that have changed since 911 that have caused us to be more careful about traveling.

Personally, I can't see a 'child' traveling alone on a Cruise - but any age with a parent. My daughter is a chef on the Pride of Aloha in Hawaii and she has seen young new borns on the ship, mentally and physically challenged, and upwards of 90 years old.

Answer 4

Cruise ships require a minimum age of 21. If you are under 21, you must travel with a guardian 25 or older.

Most hotels won't accept a guest under 21 unless you are there on business and can prove it.

Car rental companies won't rent to anyone under 21 and many won't unless you are 25.