U.S. government puts pressure on its carriers to cancel family seating fees

In an attempt to get U.S. carriers to eliminate “junk fees” the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has confirmed that three airlines will not be charging family seating fees. American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Frontier Airlines will now include a guarantee in customer service plans. In so doing, they have committed in writing to eliminate family seating fees if adjacent seats are available during booking.

The USDOT is launching a new government dashboard which will highlight airline commitments after its four-month review discovered that no airlines were guaranteeing fee-free family seating. To receive a dashboard green check, U.S. carriers must guarantee parents can sit next to children age 13 or under without being charged additional fees if seats are available at booking. They must also include that guarantee as part of their customer service plans “so that it is backstopped by USDOT enforcement if they fail to deliver,” the Department said.

Airlines for America, which represents major U.S. airlines, says that while its carriers do not charge for family seating, many have failed to include commitments in their customer service plans. Those carriers which do not follow up on their written commitments will likely face USDOT enforcement actions.

Alaska Airlines confirmed that it has “always cared for families on our flights and family seating is something we've never charged for.” Frontier Airlines commented that it had recently taken steps to “automatically” seat young children with an accompanying adult. American Airlines stated that its written plan “provides additional clarity.”

The USDOT has commenced drafting regulations to end family seating fees, though unfortunately this could take years to finalize. The administration intends to send Congress proposed legislation in the next few weeks to end the fees.

President Biden first urged airlines in his State of the Union last month to take the action, saying, “Baggage fees are bad enough – airlines can't treat your child like a piece of baggage.”