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· American Airlines
The age restrictions at American Airlines are pretty similar; the kids will need to be at least 5 years old before sending them through the TSA gauntlet. No connecting flight nightmares until they are seven, and they’ll need to be watched by the airline until they are 14. The unaccompanied minor charge is going to be $100 each way, and it’s likely you’ll be paying another $20 to make the special reservation over the telephone. Answer any other questions about their policies right here.

· United
Over at United Airlines things are slightly different. Here, once your kids are 12 they are free to do whatever they want. You don’t have to pay any fees, and as long as you trust little Sally, she can experience the whole airport thing all by herself. If you do want the airline watching over your daughter, it will be $99 each way. However, if you’re sending them to Brazil—there’s no charge. Rio 2016 here we come! You can book the tickets online, but you will need to call reservations to let them know what’s up. Get the scoop on what to do if they are under 12 by clicking here.

· JetBlue
Kids love snacks, so choosing JetBlue for a trip to their favorite—or not so favorite—relative is a great idea. They are a better deal since it’s only $75 each way per solo child traveler, and this is for kids between ages 5 and 14. There’s all kinds of special rules if you want to send your kids out of the country—which probably isn’t the best idea if they are alone—but St. Lucia was pretty cool. Just go here to see what the deal is with all of JetBlue’s sunny destinations.

· Southwest Airlines
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that bags fly free on Southwest Airlines. However, that’s not the deal for unaccompanied minors. We guess they must love all those cute roller suitcases more than little Johnny and Suzy. The airline is still way cheaper than the legacy carriers and will only charge you $25 each way to send the kids off on an adventure. Children ages 5 through 11 can fly on nonstop or direct flights under the guidance of the airline, and if they’re older than that, just send them on the loose. Print out your own checklist of what to do with your little frequent fliers right here.

Hopefully we’ve shed some light on how to have a peaceful holiday season by sending the kids elsewhere to spend the season—just at least get them some presents! If you need information about another airline that’s a little more convenient to your location, just follow the links below:

· Virgin America: They charge $75 each way for the kids; get the full scoop here.

· US Airways: Under 14 will be $100 each way; here's all the details.

· Continental: It's $75 each way for non-stops, and $100 each way for connecting flights. See how your kid can handle things right here.

· AirTran Airways: It'll be $78 round trip for non-stops and $118 for connecting trips. The total picture can be found here.

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· The Airline Holiday Travel Grinch Strikes Again [Jaunted]
· Holiday Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: woodleywonderworks]