New U.S. Proposal Aims to Eliminate Extra Fees for Parents Traveling with Kids

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has announced a proposed rule that could change how airlines handle family seating arrangements. Once approved, this new regulation will forbid airlines from imposing additional fees for parents to sit with their children who are 13 years old and younger.

Under the proposal disclosed on Thursday, both U.S. and international airlines would be mandated to seat young passengers next to their accompanying adults at no additional cost. If adjacent seats are unavailable at the time of booking, families would have two options: opt for a full refund or wait to see if a seat becomes available. If no seats open up before boarding begins, airlines must offer free rebooking on the next flight with available adjacent seating.

The Biden administration estimates this rule could save a family of four up to $200 in seating fees for just a round trip. The U.S. Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg, emphasized that flying with children is already complicated enough without worrying about additional fees.

Airlines like Alaska, American, Frontier, and JetBlue offer free adjoining seating for young children. This proposed rule is a part of the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act signed by President Biden in May, which aims to standardize this practice across all carriers.

The DOT will review public comments for the next 60 days before finalizing the rule. This move is part of a wider effort to address “junk fees” and enhance transparency in air travel, though airlines have pushed back against similar regulations in the past.

As this proposal develops and potentially reshapes your future family travel experience.

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