The DOT has warned airlines that they need to make sure children can sit next to their parents on flights for free. Failure to do so could result in regulatory action.
According to the notice, the DOT expects US airlines to review their seating policies and practices and revise them as necessary to ensure the ability of a parent or other adult to sit next to a young child.
In four months, the OACP will review the practices and policies of airlines. The DOT will consider launching a formal rulemaking process that would ban airlines from charging fees for such seating arrangements if the review shows barriers to a child age 13 or under sitting next to an adult.
The DOT told Travel Weekly 10 months ago that it was looking into whether requirements for families to sit together on flights were necessary. The DOT concluded two years ago that U.S airlines don't need to be governed by such a requirement. One in 200 of the DOT's complaints were related to family seating, according to the department.
The Biden administration has taken a more friendly stance towards the airline industry's consumer protection regulations. A group of leading advocates met with DOT Secretary Pete Buttigieg in July of last year.
The DOT received less than one in 200 complaints related to family seating in 2020 and 2021.
The notice states that the department understands that one complaint is significant for the travelers.
The airlines for America said in a statement that they work to accommodate customers traveling with children.
The trade group said that each carrier sets their own policies that fit individual business models.
There are different procedures among the U.S. carriers. Southwest allows families travelling with a child up to the age of 6 to board together after Group A boarding, which covers the first 60 boarding positions.
The challenge for families in obtaining seats together, especially free of charge, is most complicated on basic economy tickets, or with standard seating products on ultralow-cost carriers. Unless the customer has already paid for a more expensive bundled fare product, ULCCs charge extra for seat assignments. It means higher costs for families to make sure they sit together.
The traditional carriers don't allow seat assignments prior to check-in for basic economy tickets, or only offer early seat selections with a fee. Families that want to sit together must either purchase a more expensive economy seat or pay for the seat selection. Early assignments of aisle and window seats on standard economy fares are now required by traditional carriers.
Families who choose not to reserve seat assignments at booking are not out of luck. Families are encouraged to check in as soon as possible and to arrive at the airport early.
"If you don't select your seats in advance, we'll do our best to find adjoining seats for your family on the same reservation in the cabin you booked a few days before your flight departs." At that time there may be limited seats and your family or group may be split. Seat selections can be changed in the event of an aircraft substitution.
The DOT published a bill of rights for passengers with disabilities. New rules are not included in the document. The DOT gives a summary of the rights of air travelers with disabilities.
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