Getting frequent flyer miles for your children has just become a lot simpler

Editor's note: This post is updated regularly with the latest information.

You may already know that traveling with a young child can be challenging, but in the past, setting up a frequent flyer account for your kids wasn't exactly straightforward either. There were often additional hurdles to overcome, such as filling out enrollment forms, obtaining consent, making phone calls, and needing separate email addresses.

Fortunately, one major U.S. airline—Delta—has simplified the process for kids to earn miles. They have removed the requirement to download and submit a separate form to register a child for a SkyMiles account. Now, you can easily create the account online by simply clicking a button to confirm you are the child's parent or guardian.

While Delta has streamlined earning miles for kids, other programs still present challenges. TPG has previously discussed the necessity of kids having their own email addresses for loyalty programs. This can be complicated due to the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which safeguards the privacy of children under 13. Some providers may refuse to issue email addresses for minors. However, there are special solutions available, such as Google's Family Link, that can assist in this area.

What other obstacles could you encounter? Let’s examine them, airline by airline. Keep in mind that a seat must be purchased for your child for them to accumulate miles. While lap infants might collect passport stamps, they do not earn miles.

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Alaska Airlines

How to enroll your kids: A parent or legal guardian can register a child in the Mileage Plan online (just click the "Sign Up" button on the homepage) if they are 13 or older, or by contacting customer service (800-654-5669) or the reservations hotline (800-252-7522) if they are younger than 13.

Information needed: The minor's name, gender, date of birth, address, and phone number, along with an email address and preferred username if you register for an online account.

Important: Children under 13 cannot create an online My Account profile but can be registered in the Mileage Plan by calling Alaska Airlines at 1-(800) 252-7522.

American Airlines

How to enroll kids: A parent or legal guardian must sign up a child who is 13 or younger. This can be done online by visiting AA.com's homepage, clicking on "AAdvantage," and then selecting "Join AAdvantage."

Significantly, American Airlines has recently stopped expiring the miles of children who are part of AAdvantage, meaning they are no longer required to earn or redeem miles every 18 months until they turn 21.

Information needed: The minor's name, date of birth, gender, address, email, phone number, a preferred username, and answers to three security questions. If your child has a Known Traveler Number, please include it on the enrollment form as well.

Delta

How to enroll kids: Parents can now easily sign up children aged 13 and under for a SkyMiles account online by clicking a button to confirm their role as parent or guardian. You’ll need to provide an email address, username, password, and answer two security questions, such as the father's middle name, first school, or first pet.

Information needed: The minor's name, date of birth, and address.

Important: As a new member, the child can earn mileage credit for flights taken up to nine months before their enrollment date.

Frontier

How to enroll kids: Parents can set up their children (aged 13 or younger) with their own Frontier frequent flyer account online by visiting the homepage and clicking the "sign up" link in the upper right corner, or by calling the customer service center at (801) 401-9000.

Information needed: The minor's name, gender, date of birth, address, phone number, and an email address if signing up for an online account.

Important: Similar to adult Frontier Miles accounts, any miles earned by your child will expire after six months of inactivity. However, Frontier allows family pooling for those with elite status or the cobranded Frontier Airlines World Mastercard®, enabling you to combine miles from both child and parent.

Hawaiian Airlines

How to enroll kids: Parents can register their children for HawaiianMiles online by clicking "Join Now" on the homepage, or by calling reservations at 1-800-367-5320 or the HawaiianMiles service center at 1-877-426-4537.

Information needed: A username and email address for the online account, along with the child's name, gender, date of birth, address, and phone number. You will also need to set up three security questions, choose any email subscriptions, and agree to the terms of the HawaiianMiles program.

Important: Hawaiian Airlines classifies anyone under 18 as a minor, but a parent or legal guardian can register their child for a frequent flyer account.

JetBlue

How to enroll kids: A parent or legal guardian can register children aged 13 and under for JetBlue TrueBlue. Simply log into your TrueBlue account, click the drop-down menu next to your name in the upper right corner, and select "enroll a child."

Information needed: The minor's name, date of birth, email address, phone number, physical address, gender, Known Traveler Number (if the child has Global Entry or TSA PreCheck), and whether you wish to pool your child's points with your family account. JetBlue provides family pooling for all members, with no need for elite status or a credit card.

Important: Your child's email account must not be associated with any other JetBlue member.

Southwest Airlines

How to enroll kids: A parent or legal guardian must register their child in the Southwest Rapid Rewards program. This can be done online by clicking "enroll" at the top of the homepage, through the Southwest mobile app, or by calling the reservations line at 1-800-248-4377.

Information needed: The minor's name, date of birth, gender, address, email address, username, and two security questions.

Spirit

Information needed: The minor's name, date of birth, email address, and physical address.

United

Information needed: The minor's name, date of birth, gender, address, phone number, and email address.

Important: Only individuals aged 18 and older can create a United MileagePlus account independently. A parent or legal guardian must register their children who are under 18.

Final thoughts

In the U.S., it's never too soon to enroll your children in a frequent flyer program—especially now that miles from several airlines, including Delta, JetBlue, United, and Southwest, don’t expire. American Airlines has also stopped expiring kids' miles until they reach 21, so begin helping your children earn miles now to set them up for a free award ticket in the future.

Image courtesy of Lisa5201/Getty Images