In a move aimed at reducing travel costs and stress for families, the Biden administration has proposed a new rule that would prohibit airlines from charging parents extra fees to ensure they can sit next to their children. The initiative, dubbed "fee-free family seating," is part of a broader effort to protect consumers from excessive charges, often referred to as "junk fees."
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg announced the proposed rule, emphasizing its importance for families. "Families don't need any additional stresses or costs when flying on top of how demanding it can be to be a parent flying with your kids," Buttigieg said. "The idea that parents ought to be seated next to their own children on a flight is common sense and also seems like something that ought to be standard practice."
The rule would specifically require airlines to seat children aged 13 and under next to their parents at no additional cost. If adjacent seats are not available, airlines would be required to offer a full refund or free rebooking. This measure is expected to save families up to $200 per round trip, according to White House officials.
Lael Brainard, Director of the National Economic Council, echoed Buttigieg's sentiment, stating, "No parent should have to pay a fee to sit with their child when they fly. It's just that simple. Today's ban on family seating fees could save a family of four as much as $200 per round trip. That might not matter much to wealthy Americans, but it could be the deciding factor on whether to take a family trip for working Americans."
The proposal follows President Joe Biden's commitment to addressing consumer protection issues in his 2023 State of the Union address. Biden highlighted the importance of eliminating unfair charges, saying, "We'll cap service fees on tickets to concerts and sporting events and make companies disclose all fees upfront. And we'll prohibit airlines from charging up to $50 roundtrip for families just to sit together. Baggage fees are bad enough - they can't just treat your child like a piece of luggage."
Some airlines have already implemented policies that align with the proposed rule. According to the Department of Transportation's website, airlines such as Alaska, American, Frontier, and JetBlue currently seat children under 13 next to an accompanying adult at no additional cost.
However, the proposed mandate must undergo a public comment period before it can be enacted, which means it is unlikely to take effect until sometime next year. The response from the airline industry has been mixed. Airlines For America, an industry lobbying group, stated that its member airlines "make every effort to accommodate customers traveling together - especially those traveling with children. Each carrier has established individual policies, but all make every effort to ensure families sit together. A4A passenger carriers do not charge a family seating fee."
The proposed rule comes amid other regulatory efforts by the Biden administration to enhance transparency and fairness in the airline industry. Recently, the Department of Transportation finalized rules requiring airlines to provide automatic refunds for canceled or significantly delayed flights and to disclose fees for checked or carry-on bags, as well as for changing or canceling reservations upfront.
However, not all regulatory efforts have been smooth. A federal appeals court recently sided with airlines, temporarily blocking a rule that would have required carriers to show passengers the total cost of a trip, including checked baggage fees. The court found that the rule likely exceeded the agency's authority and would "irreparably harm" the airlines.
Buttigieg, drawing from his personal experience, highlighted the practical challenges faced by families. "As somebody who has personally experienced flying with toddlers, as my husband and I have taken our two-year-old twins on trips many times, families don't need any additional stresses or costs when flying," he said.
