U.S. pressures airlines to commit to ending family seating fees

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Three U.S. airlines agreed to commit in writing to eliminating family seating fees if adjacent seats are available during booking, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) said on Monday.

American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Frontier Airlines have agreed to include this guarantee in their customer service plans, despite pressure from President Barack Obama.

“We have been pressing airlines to guarantee family seating without tacking on extra charges, and now we’re seeing some airlines start to make this common-sense change,” Pete Buttigieg, Transportation Secretary, stated in a Monday statement.

The USDOT will unveil a new dashboard that highlights airline commitments following its review of four months which found no airlines had ever guaranteed family seating for a fee.

In order to receive a dashboard check, airlines have to guarantee that children aged 13 or younger can be seated next. They must also include this guarantee in their customer service plans. “so that it is backstopped by USDOT enforcement if they fail to deliver,” According to the department.

As part of an effort to curb what the White House refers to as “White House terrorism”, President Joe Biden asked airlines last week to adopt the American Airlines commitment. “junk fees.”

“No one should have to pay extra to be seated with their kids,” Biden stated this on Twitter.

Airlines for America is a U.S. airline association that represents many large airlines. They claim their carriers charge no fees for family seating, however, some don’t include such commitments in customer service plans. USDOT can enforce against carriers who fail to honor written promises.

Alaska Airlines claimed that they have “always cared for families on our flights and family seating is something we’ve never charged for.” Frontier claimed that in recent months, it had taken steps to “automatically” Place young children in a car with an adult. American provided its written plan “provides additional clarity.”

The USDOT is currently drafting regulations that will eliminate family seating fees. However, it could take many years for them to complete. In the next few weeks, the administration will send Congress proposed legislation to eliminate the fees.

Biden invited airlines to act in the State of the Union speech last month. “Baggage fees are bad enough – airlines can’t treat your child like a piece of baggage.”

In August, U.S. airlines made “significant changes” Nearly all agreed to provide overnight accommodations and meals to passengers for delayed flights. This was after the USDOT announced its first dashboard that compared customer protections.

(Reporting and Editing by David Shepardson. Editing By Christian Schmollinger