Children 5-14 years old must travel as an Unaccompanied Minor when not traveling with an adult at least 15 years old. Unaccompanied Minors are accepted only on direct flights which do not require a change of aircraft or flight number.

Yes, a 14-year-old can fly alone on Spirit Airlines in 2026, and they are not required to use the "Unaccompanied Minor" (UNMR) service. Spirit's policy states that children aged 15 and older are considered adults for travel purposes, but those aged 5 to 14 can travel alone as long as they are booked as an "Unaccompanied Minor" on direct/non-stop flights only. However, for a 14-year-old, the UNMR service is mandatory, not optional. This service carries a fee of approximately $150 per direction (plus the airfare) and includes extra supervision by flight attendants and a formal "hand-off" process at the destination. The child must be dropped off at the gate by a guardian with a "gate pass" and met at the destination gate by a pre-designated adult with a valid photo ID. It is important to note that Spirit does not allow unaccompanied minors on international flights or flights requiring a connection, so the 14-year-old's itinerary must be a point-to-point domestic flight.