Parents Now Can Guarantee Seats Near Their Kids In Airplanes Without Paying Fees

Good news for parents who fly with their children; they will no longer have to pay an extra fee for a seat guaranteed to sit by their child.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says it had received numerous reports from concerned parents who said they were forced to deplane or change their travel plans when they could not sit by their child on their flight. The DOT is working to change that.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has notified airlines that they need to let parents sit next to their children — without charging parents an extra fee to be assured a seat by their child. As long as the child is 13 years old or younger, airlines must allow parents and young children to be seated together at no extra charge.

The DOT said in a press release, “If airlines’ seating policies and practices are found to be barriers to a child sitting next to an adult family member or other accompanying adult family member, the Department will be prepared for potential actions consistent with its authorities.”

The next time you are flying with your kids, remember that you have the right to ask to be seated by any children under the age of 13 without paying any extra fees.