Many teens will have to pay $150 more to fly United Airlines

A new United Airlines policy will make it more expensive for some teenagers to fly alone, according to the airline's website.

For tickets sold after Dec. 14, United Airlines will charge a $150 "unaccompanied minor service" fee for any child between the ages of 5 and 15 that flies without an accompanying adult, according to a notice on the website. Before Dec. 14, the fee was only charged for minors between the ages of 5 and 12 years old. According to the airline's website, the extra service fee is charged "to cover extra handling required when an unaccompanied child travels."

The change comes after the airline decided the additional funds would be used to provide better care for the young solo passengers.

“We made a thoughtful review of the policy and decided that this change will provide the best possible care for these travelers,” United spokesman Charles Hobart told the Los Angeles Times.

However, Jay Sorensen, president of Wisconsin-based IdeaWorksCo and an airline revenue consultant, told the Los Angeles Times that an upgrade service should be offered instead.

Both Delta and American Airlines also charge a $150 fee for unaccompanied minors between the ages of 5 and 14 years old, according to their websites.

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.