Airlines and family seating has become a hot topic for families traveling with young children. Imagine booking a flight, excited for your family vacation, only to find out at the airport that your family might be seated separately. For parents of young children, this isn’t just an inconvenience – it’s a safety and logistical concern. No parent wants their young child seated rows away, potentially next to strangers, especially during air travel.
Recognizing these concerns, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is taking steps to ensure families can sit together without incurring extra costs. This article delves into the proposed DOT rule on airline family seating, what it means for you, and what to expect when flying with your children.
The Push for Guaranteed Family Seating
For years, the DOT has been reviewing airline family seating policies. The FAA Extension, Safety, and Security Act of 2016 mandated a review of these policies, urging airlines to enable young children (age 13 and under) to sit next to a family member (age 14 and over) whenever possible, and at no extra charge.
While some airlines claimed to make efforts to seat families together, guarantees were rare, and often, families faced additional fees to ensure adjacent seating. Complaints to the DOT, though not massive in number, highlighted significant stress and anxiety for families facing separation on flights. Consumer advocates emphasized that even isolated incidents of family separation can cause considerable harm and distress to children.
This led to increased pressure on airlines. In 2023, President Biden called for a ban on airline family seating fees, and the DOT announced a rulemaking to address the issue. The core principle? Family seating is considered a basic service essential for adequate air transportation, and it should be included in the advertised fare.
Understanding the Proposed DOT Rule
To solidify family seating rights, the DOT has proposed a new rule that would mandate both U.S. and foreign air carriers to seat children aged 13 and under next to at least one accompanying adult, at no additional cost beyond the fare. This rule aims to eliminate surprise fees and ensure families are seated together as a standard practice.
Key Aspects of the Proposed Rule:
- Who is covered? The rule applies to U.S. and foreign air carriers operating scheduled passenger flights to, from, or within the U.S., using aircraft with 30 or more passenger seats. This covers most major airlines.
- What is “Adjacent Seating”? The proposal defines “adjacent seating” as seats next to each other in the same row, not separated by an aisle. This clarifies that airlines can’t fulfill the requirement by placing a child across the aisle from a parent.
- Who is a “Young Child” and “Accompanying Adult”? A “young child” is defined as someone age 13 or under. An “accompanying adult” is an individual age 14 or over traveling on the same reservation. This acknowledges that the adult may not always be a parent, but could be a sibling, guardian, or family friend.
- “No Additional Cost” Explained: This means no extra charges beyond the base fare. Airlines can’t impose seat selection fees or priority boarding fees to guarantee family seating. The “fare” is defined as the price of air transportation, including basic services and mandatory taxes and fees – crucially, it includes basic services like family seating.
- Class of Service: Family seating must be provided within the same class of service purchased (e.g., Economy, Business). Airlines aren’t obligated to upgrade families to a higher class to achieve adjacent seating.
Exceptions to the Family Seating Rule
While the proposed rule aims for guaranteed family seating, it acknowledges situations where it might not be possible. There are four proposed exceptions:
- Child traveling alone: Unaccompanied minors are handled under separate airline services and are not covered by this family seating rule.
- Family chooses to sit apart: If a family actively declines adjacent seats or selects seats that are not together, the airline is not obligated to rearrange seating.
- Aircraft limitations: If the aircraft layout or the number of children in a group makes adjacent seating physically impossible, the airline is exempt. However, in cases with multiple children, airlines are expected to seat children as close as possible – across the aisle, or directly in front or behind the accompanying adult.
- Failure to comply with check-in/boarding: If families don’t adhere to airline check-in or boarding deadlines (as long as these deadlines aren’t unreasonably burdensome for families), the family seating guarantee may not apply.
What Happens When Family Seating Isn’t Available at Booking?
The proposed rule outlines procedures for “assigned seating carriers” (airlines that allow seat selection in advance) when adjacent seats aren’t available at the time of booking:
- Options for Families: Airlines must offer families a choice:
- Full Refund: Families can opt for a full refund if adjacent seats aren’t available.
- Wait for Availability: Families can choose to wait and see if adjacent seats become available closer to the departure date.
- Airline Communication: For flights booked well in advance (more than two weeks before departure), airlines must contact families within 48 hours of booking and give them at least seven days to decide between a refund or waiting. For last-minute bookings, the contact and decision timeframe are shortened to be “as soon as practical” and “reasonable.”
- If Waiting Works Out: If adjacent seats become available before boarding, the airline must assign them to the family and notify them.
- If Waiting Doesn’t Work Out: If adjacent seats remain unavailable by boarding time, the airline must offer:
- Free rebooking: Rebooking on the next flight to the same destination with available family seating, at no extra cost.
- Continue travel separately: Families can choose to fly on their original flight, even if seated apart. (Note: Refunds are generally not offered at this stage if the family initially chose to wait.)
Open Seating Carriers and Family Seating
The rule also addresses “open seating carriers” (airlines where seats are not assigned in advance). For these airlines, the proposal requires them to board passengers in a way that allows families to secure adjacent seats without extra cost.
This offers flexibility to open seating carriers. They might:
- Designate family seating sections: Block off a section of seats specifically for families.
- Prioritize family boarding: Board families first to allow them to choose seats together.
Disclosure and Customer Service
Transparency is key. The proposed rule mandates airlines to:
- Clearly disclose family seating policies: On their websites and when customers call to book. This includes informing customers about the airline’s commitment to family seating and any applicable exceptions.
- Update Customer Service Plans: Airlines must include a commitment to family seating in their customer service plans, ensuring passengers are aware of their rights.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
To ensure airlines take these rules seriously, the DOT proposes civil penalties for violations. Airlines failing to provide family seating or charging extra fees could face penalties per child affected and per fee charged.
What Does This Mean for Travelers?
If this rule is finalized, it could significantly improve the travel experience for families with young children. You would have:
- Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Knowing you’ll be seated with your children removes a major travel worry.
- No Unexpected Fees: You won’t be forced to pay extra to sit with your kids.
- Clearer Rights: The rule establishes a clear standard for airlines to follow regarding family seating.
The Bigger Picture: Basic Services and Airline Fees
The DOT is also considering a broader question: What constitutes a “basic service” in air travel? The proposed rule argues family seating is basic. But what about other services that were once standard and are now often fee-based, like booking tickets, getting boarding passes, or even onboard refreshments?
The DOT is seeking public comment on whether other services should be considered “basic” and included in the base fare, potentially leading to further regulations on airline fees and service unbundling.
Have Your Say
This proposed rule is currently open for public comment. If you have opinions or experiences related to airline family seating, you can submit comments to the DOT (details on how to comment are in the original document). Your voice can help shape the final rule and impact how airlines accommodate families in the future.
In conclusion, the DOT’s proposed family seating rule is a significant step towards making air travel more family-friendly. By ensuring children and parents can sit together without extra charges, it addresses safety, convenience, and fairness in airline services. As the rule progresses, stay informed about your rights and airline policies to ensure smoother and less stressful family travel experiences.
Note: This article is based on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and the rules are not yet finalized. Always check with your specific airline for their current family seating policies.
This article incorporates the key elements of the original document, focuses on “family seating”, is written in markdown, and aims to be more engaging and SEO-optimized for an English-speaking audience on a travel website. It avoids jargon, explains complex points clearly, and includes relevant keywords naturally. The tone is informative and slightly advocacy-oriented, reflecting the spirit of the original document while adapting it for a different context.
