In the latest round of rules against “junk fees,” the White House is pushing a new U.S. Department of Transportation rule which would make airlines seat families together without paying for seat fees.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is suggesting a new rule that would reduce another “junk fee” for a family of flyers trying to sit together.

A new notice of proposed rulemaking backed by the Biden-Harris administration was announced on August 1, 2024, which would require air carriers to keep parents next to their young children on flights, which could save families $200 per more per round trip.

DOT Says Changing Rule Would Reduce Stress, Improve Experience for Everyone

Currently, the Transportation Department says airlines make family seating an option that comes with a seat selection fee. As a result, flyers are often required to negotiate with each other to keep young children with parents, resulting in other passengers losing out on their selected seats. If they can’t come to an agreement, a young child could end up sitting unattended next to a stranger.

“Many airlines still don’t guarantee family seating, which means parents wonder if they’ll have to pay extra just to be seated with their young child,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. “The new rule we’re proposing today, which would ban airlines from charging parents a fee to sit with their children, is another example of the Biden-Harris Administration using all the tools at our disposal to lower costs for families and protect consumers from unfair practices.”

Under the proposed rule, airlines would be required to drop the seat assignment “junk fee” when placing a child under 13 next to their parent aboard a flight. Airlines would also be required to require adjacent family seating for free within 48 hours of boarding in every class of service. If seats are not available at boarding, families would be able to either get a full refund, get rebooked on the next available flight, or stay in the non-adjacent seats on the aircraft.

Airlines would also be required to inform airlines of their rights to free family seating, and what their options are when they aren’t available. If the airline forces a family to pay for adjacent seating, the carrier could face a fine.

The public and airlines will have an opportunity to provide comments before the proposed rule could be added to DOT requirements. The administration is also soliciting commentary on “what, if any, other services should also be considered basic and essential, and therefore included as part of the fare.”

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