Northwest Raises Fee for Children Flying Solo

Northwest Airlines has doubled the fee it charges to supervise children flying alone on connecting flights. The carrier increased the fee June 1 to $120 from $60 for a round trip with connections. The fee is in addition to the ticket price and is mandatory for children 5 to 11. Airline personnel escort the children to connecting gates and supervise them on layovers. The service is optional for youths 12 to 17. Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines matched the increase June 2, but all other carriers remain at $60, according to Best Fares travel magazine. St. Paul, Minn.-based Northwest said the fee was raised because of the steady increase in the number of children flying without parents. The $60 fee Northwest charges unaccompanied children for round trips on nonstop flights was not raised.