Those new economy fares that the major carriers are offering, could save you lots of money especially if you're traveling with your family over the holidays.
Major airlines rolled them out to compete with low cost carriers like Spirit or Frontier. But in addition to nickel and diming you for just about everything, some are tagging on extra fees if you want to sit next to any of your children.
And it’s not like parents don’t have it hard enough, between carrying them through the airport, and lugging strollers and carriers.
Obviously it’s costing them a small fortune if they’re older than two years old and can’t sit on your lap.
And then there's this--no guarantee their child will sit next to them, even with the full price fares.
It makes it difficult to take care of them, and is certainly disconcerting when you don’t know the person sitting next to them.
Rainer Jenns of the Family Travel Association calls it discrimination.
Jenns told WKYC, "For any adult that’s traveling with a non-child it’s considered now by the airlines to be a luxury or an option to be able to sit next to your traveling companion. For families, particularly when they’re traveling with young children, that's really a requirement."
It's why in 2016, Congress introduced the Families Flying Together Act, which:
- Required airlines to prioritize seating families with small children together.
- Allowed the purchaser to specify a seat assignment.
- Called it deceptive to fail to disclose the inability to seat them together.
Problem is, it was never passed. And some airlines are now charging for that convenience, unlike many overseas carriers.
"The airlines here in the U.S. have not made that a priority. Unfortunately economics still kinda rules the day," said Jenss.
But before the airlines try to bully you into paying more, the Department of Transportation issued these tips to help get around the fees:
- Call the airlines and ask for help a few days before your flight. Sometimes they accommodate special needs.
- Talk to a Gate Agent. It's easier for them to move seats around, and they care more about getting passengers on board than the money.
- Ask for help from a Flight Attendant. They're often sympathetic to families who are separated.
- Finally, ask a fellow passenger to switch. And it helps if you can offer a better seat.
If all else fails, you can always give your seat mate a taste of what's to come if they don't switch, like a very unhappy child.
On Mother’s Day in 2016, Jet Blue discounted everyone’s flight by 25% each time a child cried up to 100%. That meant passengers got free flight. They haven't done it since.
But all joking aside, the reason Congress needs to pass legislation on sitting families together, is that the FBI says sexual assaults on planes have gone up 66% percent in three years.