U.S Department of Transportation Proposes Ban on Airline Fees for Family Seating

The U.S. Department of Transportation is proposing regulations to bar airlines from charging fees for seating families with young children together, following legislation signed by President Biden. The initiative is part of broader efforts to enforce consumer rights and discourage airline industry consolidation.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Thursday a proposal to bar both domestic and foreign airlines from charging fees for seating families with young children together, provided adjacent seats are available during booking.

This follows legislation signed into law by President Joe Biden in May, as his administration pushes for stricter consumer protections and scrutinizes airline fees.

The DOT's March 2023 family seating dashboard indicates four airlines—Alaska Airlines, American, Frontier, and JetBlue—have committed to guaranteeing family seating without additional charges.