In a move aimed at easing the financial burden on families, the Biden administration is taking steps to eliminate the practice of charging parents to sit with their children on flights. The proposal, announced on Thursday, seeks to put an end to these "junk fees" and require airlines to seat parents next to their children when adjacent seating is available at the time of booking.

Currently, most US airlines charge an additional fee, ranging up to $200 for a family of four, to ensure that parents are seated with their young children. This often forces families to make a difficult choice between spending the duration of the flight apart or incurring extra expenses. The Biden administration sees this as an unfair practice that adds unnecessary complications to an already challenging experience of flying with children.

Speaking about the proposal, Pete Buttigieg, the US transportation secretary, emphasized the importance of guaranteeing family seating. "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. Flying with children is already complicated enough without having to worry about that," Buttigieg stated in a press release.

During his 2023 State of the Union address, President Biden called on Congress to take action against this practice, highlighting the emotional burden it places on parents. "We'll prohibit airlines from charging up to $50 roundtrip for families just to sit together," President Biden asserted, equating the situation to treating a child as a piece of luggage.

While Buttigieg has previously urged airlines to eliminate these fees voluntarily, only four out of the ten largest US airlines, including Alaska Airlines, Frontier, American, and JetBlue, have done so. However, with Congress granting the Department of Transportation the authority to propose a new rule, the Biden administration is now moving to ensure the elimination of these fees outright. This bipartisan effort is outlined in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.

In addition to banning airlines from charging parents a fee to sit with their children, the proposed rule would require airlines to offer passengers refunds, free rebooking, or alternative options when adjacent family seating is unavailable on a flight. Airlines would also be obligated to disclose these new rules and would face civil penalties for non-compliance.

It is important to note that the proposed rule is currently open for public comments and is expected to take effect sometime next year. If implemented, this regulation would offer much-needed relief to families traveling with young children, ensuring that they can stay together without incurring extra charges or relying on the goodwill of fellow passengers.