The U.S. Department of Transportation has proposed a new rule that would ban airlines from charging parents extra fees to sit with their young children. The rule would require airlines to seat children ages 13 or younger next to a parent or accompanying adult at no additional cost. If adjacent seats are not available at the time of booking, airlines would have to offer families the choice of a full refund or waiting to see if a seat opens up. This rule is estimated to save a family of four up to $200 in seat fees for a round trip, according to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
While the trade association Airlines for America claims that airlines already make efforts to accommodate families and ensure they sit together, Buttigieg pointed out that only four airlines currently guarantee that children ages 13 and under can sit next to an accompanying adult for free. The proposed rule was authorized by Congress as part of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act, signed by President Joe Biden in May. This legislation also includes provisions to raise penalties for airlines that violate consumer laws and requires the Transportation Department to create a dashboard for consumers to compare seat sizes on different airlines.
Airlines have been resisting the Biden administration’s efforts to eliminate what it calls “junk fees.” In April, final rules were issued requiring airlines to automatically issue cash refunds for canceled or delayed flights and be more transparent about the fees they charge for baggage or cancellations. However, airlines challenged these rules in court and a three-judge panel temporarily halted the fee rule from taking effect. Despite potential challenges, Buttigieg remains confident in the authority of the Transportation Department to implement the proposed family seating rule, citing the backing of Congress.
The Department of Transportation will be accepting comments on the proposed family seating rule for the next 60 days before finalizing the rule. The rule aims to make flying with children less stressful and eliminate the added burden of worrying about seating arrangements. The Biden administration continues to push for consumer protections in the airline industry, seeking to make air travel more transparent and fair for travelers. Airlines are expected to comply with the new rule once it is finalized, with the potential to benefit families by ensuring they can sit together without incurring additional costs.
