Never Overpay to Sit Next to Your Child on an Airplane
There’s a lot to be said about the difficulties of traveling with young children, but the Department of Transportation is doing at least one thing to make the process easier. According to a notice released last Friday by the Department of Transportation, the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) issued a notice urging US airlines to ensure that children aged 13 and under are seated next to an accompanying adult at no additional charge. The notice states that “The Department will monitor airlines’ actions in this regard and consider what steps, including potential regulation consistent with the Department’s authority, may be appropriate to ensure that airline seating policies and practices do not interfere with for a small child to sit next to. adult family member or other accompanying adult.”
Under the new guidance, the OACP is urging airlines to offer customers the option at the time of booking to indicate that they will need seats for the children they are accompanying. “If adjacent seats are not available at the time of booking, the OACP recommends that airlines provide clear and accurate information to the parent or other adult traveling with a small child so that the adult can make an informed decision about how to proceed,” the notice reads. It is worth noting that this only applies if both tickets purchased are in the same class of service; airlines are not required to provide accommodation that would result in a child being placed in a section with a higher fare. Otherwise, airlines are expected to accommodate children with their parents to the maximum extent possible.
Airlines that do not offer the option to indicate that you are traveling with children at the time of booking are advised to maintain an “open seat policy”, under which the airline may ensure that adults traveling with young children can be seated so that at least one adult is next to each small child at no extra charge. (Some companies, such as United Airlines , may still offer you to purchase seats in advance so that your entire group sits together.) If you didn’t make an agreement at the time of booking, tell the attendant at the gate that you are flying. with the child to make sure everything is done correctly before boarding. If the airline is unable to process your request, you may file a complaint with the OACP at C70Notice@dot.gov .