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

[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.

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.

Not really. They only have to “try.” It’s still dependent on availability of free seats together. They can’t move anyone who has an assigned seat.

[Anonymous]

1. Agree that this should have been the rule all along. Carriers are responsible for wellbeing of passengers. Putting a kid with a parent is part of that.
2. New rule will likely require implementing algorithms that place kid and parent together every chance there is an opportunity to do so (maybe even including premium seats) vs relying on the manual/if available and if invoked process currently in place.

Thank you, OP, for the info!

[Anonymous]

Maybe they should make a system where passengers can choose window, aisle or basic economy. And that's all you can choose, not your particular seat. The airlines will figure out the seats 24 hours in advance, putting families in windows and middles.

I don't think it should be 13 and under. I think under 10 would be adequate. 10 years old have no issue sitting by themselves with their ipads. 8 year olds are probably fine.

[Anonymous]

It should be 17 or 18.

If they can’t drink until 21 or vote until 18 or drive until 16, then how can they be considered adults in an airplane at age 13!?

A 13 yo girl can be forced to sit inches away from a random adult male? Alone!?

I can envision my DD sitting next to some middle-aged weirdo and getting assaulted, which does happen on planes.
And a young girl or woman always has to be prepared for such attacks.

[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.

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.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they should make a system where passengers can choose window, aisle or basic economy. And that's all you can choose, not your particular seat. The airlines will figure out the seats 24 hours in advance, putting families in windows and middles.

I don't think it should be 13 and under. I think under 10 would be adequate. 10 years old have no issue sitting by themselves with their ipads. 8 year olds are probably fine.

I could not disagree with you more as the parent of teenage girls.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It should be 17 or 18.

If they can’t drink until 21 or vote until 18 or drive until 16, then how can they be considered adults in an airplane at age 13!?

A 13 yo girl can be forced to sit inches away from a random adult male? Alone!?

I can envision my DD sitting next to some middle-aged weirdo and getting assaulted, which does happen on planes.
And a young girl or woman always has to be prepared for such attacks.

Unclench. You do realize 15 year olds can fly completely alone not as an unaccompanied minor? Perhaps raise your kid without your crippling anxiety if the boogeyman in the next seat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they should make a system where passengers can choose window, aisle or basic economy. And that's all you can choose, not your particular seat. The airlines will figure out the seats 24 hours in advance, putting families in windows and middles.

I don't think it should be 13 and under. I think under 10 would be adequate. 10 years old have no issue sitting by themselves with their ipads. 8 year olds are probably fine.

I could not disagree with you more as the parent of teenage girls.

And I disagree with you as a parent of teen (now adult) girls who flew by themselves many times. 13 is fine. You’re on the same plane not a different continent. Everyone has their own comfort level. PURCHASE tickets accordingly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Exactly. I posted on the other thread about our 3 year old being seated on his own. I noticed though and it was changed before we got to the airport. (We went through a travel agent for that trip)

Op this is good but how does it help when there is an aircraft change and the flight is full?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Exactly. I posted on the other thread about our 3 year old being seated on his own. I noticed though and it was changed before we got to the airport. (We went through a travel agent for that trip)

Op this is good but how does it help when there is an aircraft change and the flight is full?

It doesn’t. This is a feel good/sounds good thing that changes very little. The airlines are already accommodating families when they have the space to easily do so. This is a distinction without a difference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they should make a system where passengers can choose window, aisle or basic economy. And that's all you can choose, not your particular seat. The airlines will figure out the seats 24 hours in advance, putting families in windows and middles.

I don't think it should be 13 and under. I think under 10 would be adequate. 10 years old have no issue sitting by themselves with their ipads. 8 year olds are probably fine.

I could not disagree with you more as the parent of teenage girls.

Many of us flew by ourselves as teenagers! When I was 14 I flew overseas to stay with my penpal for the summer. Your kids aren't as fragile or weak as you think.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It should be 17 or 18.

If they can’t drink until 21 or vote until 18 or drive until 16, then how can they be considered adults in an airplane at age 13!?

A 13 yo girl can be forced to sit inches away from a random adult male? Alone!?

I can envision my DD sitting next to some middle-aged weirdo and getting assaulted, which does happen on planes.
And a young girl or woman always has to be prepared for such attacks.

It must be hard being your kids.

[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.

OP here. As stated above, it is not fair to assume that a family with separate seating failed to plan ahead. It could be for other reasons, such the airline having to change the aircraft, or the family having to book at the last minute.

It is good to assume positive intent. Maybe this family did fail to plan, but maybe they had other reasons. It's a good thing for kids to sit next to their parents. As a society, we should try to support that even if it means a minor inconvenience for some people

[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?

OP here. As the requirement for family seating becomes more well-known (which may take a few years), passengers with 13-and-under children will insist on this benefit. Also, the future DOT rule may require that airlines disclose this benefit, or even offer it proactively. The "risk" to airlines is not so much from DOT enforcement/fines, but of passengers just insisting on it. Therefore the airline just needs to do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Exactly. I posted on the other thread about our 3 year old being seated on his own. I noticed though and it was changed before we got to the airport. (We went through a travel agent for that trip)

Op this is good but how does it help when there is an aircraft change and the flight is full?

It doesn’t. This is a feel good/sounds good thing that changes very little. The airlines are already accommodating families when they have the space to easily do so. This is a distinction without a difference.

OP here. It still does help, even if there was an aircraft change and the flight is full. The flight attendants will be trained on the importance of this rule. The flying public will be aware of the rule (eventually). So flight attendants will be more willing to ask people to voluntarily move. And the flying public may be more willing to move.

(I don't know if this example will be resonate, but I kind of think of the mask mandate on airplanes during COVID. At first, it was an airline rule. The flight attendants tried to enforce it, and the traveling public was relatively compliant. Once it became a federal mandate, as opposed to just an airline rule, it gave the flight attendants more confidence to enforce the rule. And the flying public became more aware.)