Federal Government Proposes Ban on Airlines Charging Extra to Seat Parents Next to Kids

Transportation officials said the change could save a family of four as much as $200 for a round trip.

Travelers pass through Salt Lake City International Airport in Salt Lake City, Utah, on May 24, 2024,.Rick Bowmer/AP Photo

The federal government is seeking to prohibit airlines from charging parents extra to sit next to their children on flights, as part of its effort to tackle what it calls “junk fees” across industries.

Under a rule proposed on Aug. 1 by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), airlines would be required to seat children 13 or younger next to their parent or accompanying adult for free.