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: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.)

I've been nearly in tears asking people to switch seats in a delayed flight/missed connection/rebooking situation with a small child. The flight attendants wouldn't help (nor would the gate agents, ticket agents or reservations people as the flights were all full). And the passengers had selected and paid extra for their seats (as had I with my original flights). One did eventually switch but it was awful.

I believe it's wishful thinking that training and being aware of rules will change this situation. Maybe if the airlines offered incentives to people to switch. But that would cost them money so unlikely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.)

I've been nearly in tears asking people to switch seats in a delayed flight/missed connection/rebooking situation with a small child. The flight attendants wouldn't help (nor would the gate agents, ticket agents or reservations people as the flights were all full). And the passengers had selected and paid extra for their seats (as had I with my original flights). One did eventually switch but it was awful.

I believe it's wishful thinking that training and being aware of rules will change this situation. Maybe if the airlines offered incentives to people to switch. But that would cost them money so unlikely.

The incentive just has to be less than the fine.

If an airlines faces $1,000,000 fine for a child under two being separated from their parent, $750,0000 for under five, $250,000 for under ten, it makes a lot of financial sense to offer another passenger a business class seat on a later flight.

Again, you’ve never seen this happen on European flights. Why do you think that is?

[Anonymous]

I remember once hearing a gate agent announce that there was a family whose original flight had been cancelled and they now didn't have seats together and was anyone willing to switch. And people were. Offering to refund seat selection fees and maybe give small travel vouchers would probably incentivize others if there were no initial volunteers.

[Anonymous]

I'd be pissed if my pre-paid, pre-booked seat was bumped because some dumb family chose to be cheap a$$es and not bother to book their seats together. Annoying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.)

I've been nearly in tears asking people to switch seats in a delayed flight/missed connection/rebooking situation with a small child. The flight attendants wouldn't help (nor would the gate agents, ticket agents or reservations people as the flights were all full). And the passengers had selected and paid extra for their seats (as had I with my original flights). One did eventually switch but it was awful.

I believe it's wishful thinking that training and being aware of rules will change this situation. Maybe if the airlines offered incentives to people to switch. But that would cost them money so unlikely.

The incentive just has to be less than the fine.

If an airlines faces $1,000,000 fine for a child under two being separated from their parent, $750,0000 for under five, $250,000 for under ten, it makes a lot of financial sense to offer another passenger a business class seat on a later flight.

Again, you’ve never seen this happen on European flights. Why do you think that is?

This is a terrible idea. If fines are instituted, airlines will just involuntarily bump families from flights where they can’t accommodate the seating requirements. Maybe that’s what you want. Have fun waiting for the next flight that can accommodate your demands!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be pissed if my pre-paid, pre-booked seat was bumped because some dumb family chose to be cheap a$$es and not bother to book their seats together. Annoying.

I hope that you will accept his constructive criticism, but you sound like an angry person who might want to consider some type of anger-management training, for the sake of the people around you (and your health).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be pissed if my pre-paid, pre-booked seat was bumped because some dumb family chose to be cheap a$$es and not bother to book their seats together. Annoying.

But the families whose pre-paid pre-booked seats disappear because of an equipment change or flight cancellation— they don’t get to be pissed right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.)

I've been nearly in tears asking people to switch seats in a delayed flight/missed connection/rebooking situation with a small child. The flight attendants wouldn't help (nor would the gate agents, ticket agents or reservations people as the flights were all full). And the passengers had selected and paid extra for their seats (as had I with my original flights). One did eventually switch but it was awful.

I believe it's wishful thinking that training and being aware of rules will change this situation. Maybe if the airlines offered incentives to people to switch. But that would cost them money so unlikely.

The incentive just has to be less than the fine.

If an airlines faces $1,000,000 fine for a child under two being separated from their parent, $750,0000 for under five, $250,000 for under ten, it makes a lot of financial sense to offer another passenger a business class seat on a later flight.

Again, you’ve never seen this happen on European flights. Why do you think that is?

This is a terrible idea. If fines are instituted, airlines will just involuntarily bump families from flights where they can’t accommodate the seating requirements. Maybe that’s what you want. Have fun waiting for the next flight that can accommodate your demands!

Why do you think European airlines can seat families without all this hassle?

[Anonymous]

I’m so glad someone has brought this topic up for discussion. It’s been almost 48 hours since this topic was the most popular topic on this site. We were due for a fresh thread.

[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.

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.

By my read, this is how it's different - the rule doesn't specify anything about fare class or seat price. So if a family is looking at standard economy tickets and the only adjacent seats available are in premium economy, the airline has to give them the premium economy seats without charging the premium upgrade fee.

I actually ran into this booking on United this summer - I got a note that there were no standard economy seats adjacent, so they were making some premium seats available at no cost for us - but they did only give us the one option.

[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.

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.

By my read, this is how it's different - the rule doesn't specify anything about fare class or seat price. So if a family is looking at standard economy tickets and the only adjacent seats available are in premium economy, the airline has to give them the premium economy seats without charging the premium upgrade fee.

I actually ran into this booking on United this summer - I got a note that there were no standard economy seats adjacent, so they were making some premium seats available at no cost for us - but they did only give us the one option.

It actually does say “within the same class of service.” So they don’t have to give you premium seats if you didn’t buy those.