In February, President Joe Biden called for a Junk Fee Prevention Act to remove unfair and costly fees found throughout various industries, including airlines. The president called on Congress to, among other things, ban airline fees for family members to sit with their young children.
“Many airlines today charge a fee to select a seat in advance, including for those traveling with children,” the White House noted. “Parents can find themselves unexpectedly not seated with their young child on a flight or paying large fees to sit next to their children. The president believes no parent should have to pay extra to sit next to their child.”
Despite the Department of Transportation announcing a policy in July 2022 that says U.S. airlines must ensure children under the age of 14 are seated next to an accompanying adult at no extra charge, airlines did not regularly guarantee fee-free family seating before the announcement.
