In the near future, airlines will be required to seat children (ages 13 and under) next to an accompanying adult (with s

[Anonymous]

My youngest is now 10 and i've stopped paying for us to be seated together - 2 flights so far - and 2 different airlines have put us together anyway. I would never complain if we are apart - but I feel comfortable rolling the dice at this point (10 year is the youngest of 3). They have not been long flights - couple of hours, and she can do screens the whole time if separated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LOL poorly written "require the airlines to seat a 13-and-under next to an accompanying adult 14-and-over."

OP here. That was my abbreviated way of trying to convey the information. Please pause and reflect before criticizing someone who is trying to share information that may be of benefit to you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

6. When there are no adjacent seats available on a particular flight, the airline will suggest that the family consider a later flight where adjacent seats are available. At least under the proposed rule, airlines are not required to move people who already have a seat assignment.

So will the software inform families of this prior to booking? Ie: Don't book this flight - we can't seat you with your child?

It is the view of the airlines that families (with children ages 13 and under) are taking a risk when they book a flight that does not have adjacent seats available. Having said that, the airline still will make an effort to help the family. Sometimes passengers will even proactively offer to move to help a family even without the flight attendant asking. Per Southwest flight attendants that I know (an airline that has open seating now but is switching to assigned seating in 2026), it almost always works out that some pax are willing to help out a family by moving.

But how is this any different from what is happening now? It doesn’t seem like this is anything new.

OP here. What's new is that, if there are adjacent seats available, the airline will be required to seat the 13-and-under child next to the accompanying adult age 14-and-over, without charging seat fees. At this time, there is no such requirement. Airlines view this is a major change.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

6. When there are no adjacent seats available on a particular flight, the airline will suggest that the family consider a later flight where adjacent seats are available. At least under the proposed rule, airlines are not required to move people who already have a seat assignment.

So will the software inform families of this prior to booking? Ie: Don't book this flight - we can't seat you with your child?

It is the view of the airlines that families (with children ages 13 and under) are taking a risk when they book a flight that does not have adjacent seats available. Having said that, the airline still will make an effort to help the family. Sometimes passengers will even proactively offer to move to help a family even without the flight attendant asking. Per Southwest flight attendants that I know (an airline that has open seating now but is switching to assigned seating in 2026), it almost always works out that some pax are willing to help out a family by moving.

But how is this any different from what is happening now? It doesn’t seem like this is anything new.

OP here. What's new is that, if there are adjacent seats available, the airline will be required to seat the 13-and-under child next to the accompanying adult age 14-and-over, without charging seat fees. At this time, there is no such requirement. Airlines view this is a major change.

I'm pretty sure most airlines are already doing this IF the seats are available.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

6. When there are no adjacent seats available on a particular flight, the airline will suggest that the family consider a later flight where adjacent seats are available. At least under the proposed rule, airlines are not required to move people who already have a seat assignment.

So will the software inform families of this prior to booking? Ie: Don't book this flight - we can't seat you with your child?

It is the view of the airlines that families (with children ages 13 and under) are taking a risk when they book a flight that does not have adjacent seats available. Having said that, the airline still will make an effort to help the family. Sometimes passengers will even proactively offer to move to help a family even without the flight attendant asking. Per Southwest flight attendants that I know (an airline that has open seating now but is switching to assigned seating in 2026), it almost always works out that some pax are willing to help out a family by moving.

But how is this any different from what is happening now? It doesn’t seem like this is anything new.

OP here. What's new is that, if there are adjacent seats available, the airline will be required to seat the 13-and-under child next to the accompanying adult age 14-and-over, without charging seat fees. At this time, there is no such requirement. Airlines view this is a major change.

I'm pretty sure most airlines are already doing this IF the seats are available.

And therein lies the problem. It all relies on seats being available which most of the time they aren't. This won't change anything.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

6. When there are no adjacent seats available on a particular flight, the airline will suggest that the family consider a later flight where adjacent seats are available. At least under the proposed rule, airlines are not required to move people who already have a seat assignment.

So will the software inform families of this prior to booking? Ie: Don't book this flight - we can't seat you with your child?

It is the view of the airlines that families (with children ages 13 and under) are taking a risk when they book a flight that does not have adjacent seats available. Having said that, the airline still will make an effort to help the family. Sometimes passengers will even proactively offer to move to help a family even without the flight attendant asking. Per Southwest flight attendants that I know (an airline that has open seating now but is switching to assigned seating in 2026), it almost always works out that some pax are willing to help out a family by moving.

But how is this any different from what is happening now? It doesn’t seem like this is anything new.

OP here. What's new is that, if there are adjacent seats available, the airline will be required to seat the 13-and-under child next to the accompanying adult age 14-and-over, without charging seat fees. At this time, there is no such requirement. Airlines view this is a major change.

I'm pretty sure most airlines are already doing this IF the seats are available.

OP here. Yes, in 2022, DOT came out with guidance (non-binding) asking airlines to seat children (ages 13-and-under) next to an accompanying adult (14-and-over) to the maximum extent practicable, and without charging any seat fees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

6. When there are no adjacent seats available on a particular flight, the airline will suggest that the family consider a later flight where adjacent seats are available. At least under the proposed rule, airlines are not required to move people who already have a seat assignment.

So will the software inform families of this prior to booking? Ie: Don't book this flight - we can't seat you with your child?

It is the view of the airlines that families (with children ages 13 and under) are taking a risk when they book a flight that does not have adjacent seats available. Having said that, the airline still will make an effort to help the family. Sometimes passengers will even proactively offer to move to help a family even without the flight attendant asking. Per Southwest flight attendants that I know (an airline that has open seating now but is switching to assigned seating in 2026), it almost always works out that some pax are willing to help out a family by moving.

But how is this any different from what is happening now? It doesn’t seem like this is anything new.

OP here. What's new is that, if there are adjacent seats available, the airline will be required to seat the 13-and-under child next to the accompanying adult age 14-and-over, without charging seat fees. At this time, there is no such requirement. Airlines view this is a major change.

I'm pretty sure most airlines are already doing this IF the seats are available.

OP here. Yes, in 2022, DOT came out with guidance (non-binding) asking airlines to seat children (ages 13-and-under) next to an accompanying adult (14-and-over) to the maximum extent practicable, and without charging any seat fees.

How is DOT going to enforce that airlines are being compliant? Can they audit passenger seat assignment records? If a family files a complaint, can't the airline just say that adjacent seating was unavailable?

[Anonymous]

If you care about your kids don't be too cheap to pay for selection and rely in the inconvenience of strangers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

6. When there are no adjacent seats available on a particular flight, the airline will suggest that the family consider a later flight where adjacent seats are available. At least under the proposed rule, airlines are not required to move people who already have a seat assignment.

So will the software inform families of this prior to booking? Ie: Don't book this flight - we can't seat you with your child?

It is the view of the airlines that families (with children ages 13 and under) are taking a risk when they book a flight that does not have adjacent seats available. Having said that, the airline still will make an effort to help the family. Sometimes passengers will even proactively offer to move to help a family even without the flight attendant asking. Per Southwest flight attendants that I know (an airline that has open seating now but is switching to assigned seating in 2026), it almost always works out that some pax are willing to help out a family by moving.

But how is this any different from what is happening now? It doesn’t seem like this is anything new.

OP here. What's new is that, if there are adjacent seats available, the airline will be required to seat the 13-and-under child next to the accompanying adult age 14-and-over, without charging seat fees. At this time, there is no such requirement. Airlines view this is a major change.

I'm pretty sure most airlines are already doing this IF the seats are available.

OP here. Yes, in 2022, DOT came out with guidance (non-binding) asking airlines to seat children (ages 13-and-under) next to an accompanying adult (14-and-over) to the maximum extent practicable, and without charging any seat fees.

Right. So I’m not seeing much difference. It’s still space depending and the airlines can still “sell” too many seats for a premium.

[Anonymous]

OP: thank you for clarifying the matter. It makes sense that it is on the airline to fix the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you care about your kids don't be too cheap to pay for selection and rely in the inconvenience of strangers.

But that’s not the problem. Plenty of instances of parents paying for seat assignments only to have them changed by the airline. There are countless instances of toddlers being separated by their parents. The airline typically tells the parents to ask other passengers to switch seats and you know how popular that is!

[Anonymous]

I flew a bunch in regular and basic economy, without selecting and paying for seats, and never once was I seated separately from my children, starting when they were 7 and 12.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

6. When there are no adjacent seats available on a particular flight, the airline will suggest that the family consider a later flight where adjacent seats are available. At least under the proposed rule, airlines are not required to move people who already have a seat assignment.

So will the software inform families of this prior to booking? Ie: Don't book this flight - we can't seat you with your child?

It is the view of the airlines that families (with children ages 13 and under) are taking a risk when they book a flight that does not have adjacent seats available. Having said that, the airline still will make an effort to help the family. Sometimes passengers will even proactively offer to move to help a family even without the flight attendant asking. Per Southwest flight attendants that I know (an airline that has open seating now but is switching to assigned seating in 2026), it almost always works out that some pax are willing to help out a family by moving.

But how is this any different from what is happening now? It doesn’t seem like this is anything new.

OP here. What's new is that, if there are adjacent seats available, the airline will be required to seat the 13-and-under child next to the accompanying adult age 14-and-over, without charging seat fees. At this time, there is no such requirement. Airlines view this is a major change.

It is a major change— and a good one.

This is how it’s done in countries that actually have consumer protections. It’s shocking how poorly American passengers are treated in comparison to other countries— and yet passengers turn around and blame other passengers for the horrible experience that is flying here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

6. When there are no adjacent seats available on a particular flight, the airline will suggest that the family consider a later flight where adjacent seats are available. At least under the proposed rule, airlines are not required to move people who already have a seat assignment.

So will the software inform families of this prior to booking? Ie: Don't book this flight - we can't seat you with your child?

It is the view of the airlines that families (with children ages 13 and under) are taking a risk when they book a flight that does not have adjacent seats available. Having said that, the airline still will make an effort to help the family. Sometimes passengers will even proactively offer to move to help a family even without the flight attendant asking. Per Southwest flight attendants that I know (an airline that has open seating now but is switching to assigned seating in 2026), it almost always works out that some pax are willing to help out a family by moving.

But how is this any different from what is happening now? It doesn’t seem like this is anything new.

OP here. What's new is that, if there are adjacent seats available, the airline will be required to seat the 13-and-under child next to the accompanying adult age 14-and-over, without charging seat fees. At this time, there is no such requirement. Airlines view this is a major change.

I'm pretty sure most airlines are already doing this IF the seats are available.

OP here. Yes, in 2022, DOT came out with guidance (non-binding) asking airlines to seat children (ages 13-and-under) next to an accompanying adult (14-and-over) to the maximum extent practicable, and without charging any seat fees.

How is DOT going to enforce that airlines are being compliant? Can they audit passenger seat assignment records? If a family files a complaint, can't the airline just say that adjacent seating was unavailable?

They’ll have to comply like any regulated entity so yes— DOT can absolutely look at their records, collect consumer complaints, look for patterns, investigate, etc. DOT can then issue fines if it discovers noncompliance.

(This is also why it’s important to make a complaint to the right agency if you’ve been mistreated— they collect that information, analyze patterns, and often act on it!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t want to be the “responsible” adult seated next to a random 7 year old who may have bathroom accident, motion sickness, or feel responsible in case of an emergency. Who wants that?

Agreed but for some reason people have lost all reason on this issue and there are people who are downright *gleeful* about the idea of a family being forced to sit separately from their kids.

https://www.newsweek.com/passenger-refusing-give-seat-dad-child-viral-2012179

That story is especially infuriating because it's based on the Reddit post of the guy who refused to switch seats and no one spoke to the family. Much is made of the idea that the family should have booked their seats together ahead of time, and the Redditor who posted the story says there are several ways to book your seats without paying. But since no one knows the family in question, we have no idea what their situation was -- as the OP and other posters have noted, sometimes families get bumped to another flight at the last minute, or a family has to fly for an emergency reason and by the time they book, there are no seats together. But everyone in this article just assumes the family was too lazy to just book seats together like everyone else did. Likely there were extenuating circumstances.

There is a strong anti-family streak in this country, which goes along with classic American individualism. It’s too bad that for many people, instead of thinking, “wow, airlines are making record profits while making the flying exponentially crappier for all involved,” they turn around and instead direct their anger at some family in a crap situation. They assume that the family must’ve just been “not responsible” or too cheap to buy tickets together, and then people pile on and delight in being superior. It’s pretty gross.