Family Seating Guide: Avoid Fees and Sit Together

Traveling with your family should be a joyful experience, not a stressful one filled with the anxiety of getting seated together. Unfortunately, many families face the challenge of navigating airline seating policies that seem to prioritize profit over passenger comfort. The Department of Transportation (DOT) has established guidelines to help ensure that children are seated with an accompanying adult at no additional cost. However, the implementation of these guidelines can vary significantly across different airlines. This blog post aims to empower families with the knowledge they need to advocate for their right to sit together without paying extra fees.

The DOT’s Stance on Family Seating

The DOT recognizes the importance of family seating and has issued a notice encouraging airlines to make every effort to ensure that children 13 and under are seated next to an accompanying adult at no extra charge. While this notice is not legally binding, it does apply pressure on airlines to comply with these recommendations. Airlines are expected to establish policies that prioritize family seating, but it's essential for families to be aware of these policies and how they can advocate for themselves.

Airline-Specific Family Seating Policies

American Airlines

American Airlines states that it will automatically seat children under 15 years old with an accompanying adult when possible. The airline's system will try to assign seats together when tickets are purchased, but if no seats are available, they recommend contacting their reservations team for assistance. Families are encouraged to book as early as possible and use the "Manage Reservations" tool on the American Airlines website to check and adjust seating assignments.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines has a clear policy aimed at keeping families together. They attempt to seat children under 12 years of age with an accompanying adult at no extra charge. Delta suggests booking early and using the "My Trips" feature on their website to confirm seating arrangements. If issues arise, customers are advised to contact Delta’s reservations team for help.

United Airlines

United Airlines has recently made efforts to improve its family seating policies. The airline's system aims to automatically seat children under 15 next to an adult in the same reservation. If no seats are available at booking, families should reach out to United's customer service for assistance. United encourages passengers to use their mobile app or website to monitor and adjust seating arrangements.

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines operates on an open seating policy, meaning there are no assigned seats. However, they do offer Family Boarding, which allows families with children aged six and under to board between the A and B boarding groups. This gives families a better chance of finding seats together. Southwest recommends families check in as early as possible to secure an earlier boarding position.

JetBlue Airways

JetBlue’s policy aims to seat children under 14 with an accompanying adult at no additional cost. They use an automated system to assign seats together at the time of booking. JetBlue advises families to book tickets as early as possible and to contact customer service if seating issues arise.

Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines strives to seat children under 13 next to an accompanying adult. They recommend booking tickets early and checking seating assignments using the Alaska Airlines mobile app or website. If families are unable to secure seats together, Alaska’s customer service is available to assist.

Spirit Airlines

Spirit Airlines is a low-cost carrier that typically charges for seat assignments. However, they state that they will do their best to seat families together. If families cannot find seats together at the time of booking, they should contact Spirit’s customer service for assistance. Spirit recommends booking early and using their online tools to monitor seating assignments.

Frontier Airlines

Frontier Airlines, another low-cost carrier, also charges for seat assignments. They do not have a specific family seating policy but suggest that families purchase seat assignments to guarantee seating together. If this is not possible, contacting Frontier's customer service may help find a solution.

Tips for Ensuring Your Family Sits Together

1. Book Early: The sooner you book your tickets, the better your chances of finding seats together. Early booking gives you more options and allows the airline’s automated systems to work in your favor.

2. Use Airline Tools: Most airlines offer online tools and mobile apps that allow you to manage your reservations and check seating assignments. Use these tools to confirm your seating arrangements well before your flight.

3. Contact Customer Service: If you are unable to secure seats together through the airline’s website or app, don’t hesitate to contact customer service. Explain your situation and request assistance in finding seats together.

4. Check-In Early: For airlines with open seating policies like Southwest, early check-in can help secure better boarding positions, increasing the likelihood of sitting together.

5. Know Your Rights: Familiarize yourself with the DOT guidelines and the specific family seating policies of the airline you’re flying with. Being informed will help you advocate for your rights and resist pressure to pay extra for seat assignments.

6. Communicate at the Airport: If all else fails, speak to gate agents and flight attendants at the airport. They are often able to make last-minute adjustments to ensure families are seated together.

Conclusion

Understanding airline family seating policies and the DOT guidelines can significantly reduce the stress of air travel for families. While airlines vary in their approach to family seating, being proactive, informed, and assertive can help ensure that your family sits together without incurring additional costs. Remember, it’s your right to travel comfortably with your loved ones, and by knowing these policies, you can better advocate for your family’s needs.