The kids are all right--at least on some airlines.
During his State of the Union address in February, President Joe Biden declared war on so-called "junk fees" that show up on everything from financial products like credit cards to concert and airline tickets.
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A survey by Consumer Reports found that at least 85% of survey respondents experienced “hidden fees” over the previous two years, and consumers don't discover these charges until they're nearly done booking a transaction.
“Junk fees may not matter to the very wealthy, but they matter to most folks in homes like the one I grew up in. They add up to hundreds of dollars a month," Biden said in his speech. "I know how unfair it feels when a company overcharges you and gets away with it.”
Last year, Biden called upon hotels and booking sites to "reduce or eliminate hidden fees, charges, and add-ons" and committed to cracking down on those who didn't.
DOT calls out airlines
Marriott (MAR) -) became the first major chain to enforce this and display all add-on rates upfront.
Hyatt Group (H) -), the fifth-largest hotel chain in the U.S., decided to scrap added fees after getting slapped with a class action lawsuit by the advocacy group Travelers United.
In March, the U.S. Department of Transportation rolled out a new family seating dashboard that highlights the airlines that guarantee fee-free family seating, and those that do not.
"Parents traveling with young kids should be able to sit together without an airline forcing them to pay junk fees," U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement.
The department also issued a notice saying that it was USDOT policy that U.S. airlines ensure that children who are age 13 or younger are seated next to an accompanying adult with no extra charge.
American Airlines (AAL) -), Alaska Airlines (ALK) -), and Frontier Airlines were cited for stepping forward to guarantee that parents can sit with their young children “without getting nickel and dime.”
Putting 'parents and families at ease'
Now you can add JetBlue (JBLU) -) to that list after the airline introduced a formal family seating guarantee.
“We know traveling with young children can add challenges, and we want to do everything we can to put parents and families at ease by providing a smooth trip each time they choose JetBlue,” Joanna Geraghty, president and chief operating officer, said in a Sept 27 statement.
JetBlue said it has a process that identifies reservations with children and adults traveling together who don’t have prior seating assignments.
For no additional fee, the airline said it will ensure a traveling child is assigned a seat next to at least one accompanying adult – when seats are available.
Customers who choose JetBlue’s Blue Basic fare, the airline’s version of basic economy, are included in the family seating policy.
For bookings made within 24 hours of planned travel, seats may need to be assigned manually by a JetBlue airport crewmember.
The airline urged customers are urged to select their seats at the time of booking to ensure the smoothest travel experience possible. Terms and conditions do apply.
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