Originally Posted by deelmakur
In this age of the nuclear family, and a 50 percent divorce rate, how can you not make money carrying unaccompanied children? Forgetting the money, creating such capacity for customers is more like a utility than a luxury.
In this age of lawsuit craziness, how could anyone be expected to make money when entrusted with the liability of an unaccompanied minor?
Actually, the HP policy isn't horrible. Under 13s can only travel non-stop. This decreases the amount of attention the airline needs to devote to passenger, since they must have airline personnel with them at all times between drop-off and pick-up. Over 13s can make a connection (and presumably need less hand holding).
If all airlines had this sort of policy, then you'd pick the carrier based on destination, with some inconvenience likely on either or both ends to get to a hub airport.
Truthfully, kid's flying across the country are still mostly going to grandma's house (often PHX).