Summary
The U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing a new rule that would reduce another “junk fee” for a family of flyers trying to sit together. A new notice of proposed rulemaking was announced on August 1, 2024. It would require air carriers to keep parents next to their young children on flights.
Proposed rule could be added to DOT requirements. If seats are not available at boarding, families would be able to get a full refund, get rebooked on the next available flight, or stay in the non-adjacent seats on the aircraft. If the airline forces a family to pay for adjacent seating, the carrier could face a fine.