In a move that could save parents up to $200 per round-trip flight, the Biden administration has proposed a new rule that would prevent airlines from charging extra fees for children to sit next to their parents . Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg stressed that the idea of parents sitting next to their children on a flight is common sense and should be common practice.
National Economic Council director Lael Brainard echoed Buttigieg's sentiments, saying no parent should have to pay a fee to sit with their child whenever they want. Banning family seat fees could mean significant savings for families, particularly those from working-class backgrounds for whom such costs could be a deciding factor in whether to take a family trip.
This proposal is part of the administration's ongoing efforts to protect consumers from paying unnecessary fees. In addition to capping service fees on tickets to concerts and sporting events, the administration also plans to make companies disclose all fees upfront and ban airlines from charging up to $50 round-trip for families just to sit together.
Under the proposed rule, airlines would have to board children 13 and under with their parents within 48 hours of ticket purchase. If there are no adjacent seats available, the airline should provide a refund option if the customer no longer wishes to take the flight.
It's worth noting that some airlines, such as Alaska, American, Frontier and JetBlue, no longer charge passengers extra for sitting next to children. However, the proposed mandate has yet to clear a public comment period and is unlikely to be enacted until next year.
Airlines For America, an industry lobby group, said its member airlines, which include major US airlines, make every effort to accommodate customers traveling together, especially those traveling with children. Despite individual policies, all airlines strive to seat families together without charging a family seat fee.
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