One of the Big Three airlines, United Airlines, has announced a new policy allowing families with children under the age of 12 to sit together for free in specific cabins, regardless of fare type, setting what may become the benchmark for domestic airline seating regulations.
Beginning early next month, United's new "dynamic seat map feature" will let customers reserve two seats together for free on economy tickets, including basic economy fares, for children under the age of 12 and an adult partner in the party.
Tickets purchased in Polaris, first class, or Economy Plus are exempt.
The question of whether other airlines will follow United in making this significant shift is raised, especially in light of Southwest Airlines' covert expansion of its family boarding policy in January to allow families to board together with children as young as 13 on some flights.
Due to its numerical boarding procedure, Southwest does not offer assigned seating, however, most airlines charge extra for passengers to choose their seats in advance when flying on specific pricing levels, such as the basic economy.
However, acquiring numerous seats together depends on a number of factors and is therefore far from certain, and it becomes progressively unlikely when you're a family seeking several seats together. This is true even if your fare type provides a complimentary seat selection.
You are at the mercy of the airlines if you don't choose a seat while making your reservation or checking in; they will give one to you for free automatically.
Flyers with United should keep an eye out for a new seat map beginning in early March.
When booking, it will indicate any open nearby seats that are available.
According to a press statement from the Chicago-based carrier, the new tool "reviews all available free Economy seats and then opens complimentary upgrades to available Preferred Seats, if needed."
If adjacent seats are not available before your trip, United customers may switch for free to an alternative flight to the original destination that has adjacent seats in the same cabin.
United will not charge passengers with basic economy tickets for any fare difference between their original and new flights, in contrast to its current policy, which levies fees for same-day adjustments and fare variances.
In accordance with the majority of other airlines, United eliminated change costs during the COVID-19 epidemic to allow customers to book a new flight up to 24 hours before their original travel.
This applied to the majority of domestic flights and foreign flights departing from the United States, as well as flights in economy and first class to Mexico, the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, and other destinations.
Basic economy tickets were not included when United implemented this policy in January 2021, and any fare disparities were still in effect.
According to Linda Johnson, chief customer officer at United, "in a time when more families are working in a hybrid environment, they're traveling more frequently, and they're flying United."
"We're committed to giving our younger passengers—as well as their parents—a wonderful experience, and we're aware that finding the ideal seat is frequently the first step.
This year, we're excited to introduce more services geared towards families."
President Joseph Biden and the Department of Transportation have taken notice of advance seat fees, which range from $20 to $100 each way depending on the carrier, fare type, and route. Both organizations want to stop these payments as well as other so-called trash taxes through the Junk Fee Prevention Act.
At his State of the Union speech in January, Biden said, "We'll forbid airlines from charging up to $50 round-trip for families just to sit together."
"They can't just treat your child like a piece of luggage; baggage fees are terrible enough."
Airlines should not be allowed to charge children under the age of 13 for choosing a seat adjacent to an accompanying adult, according to current DOT regulations.
When asked if Biden's campaign had an impact on the airline's decision to change its family seating policy, a spokesperson for United said: "Today's announcement reflects our investments in technology and tools that are starting to take effect. United has worked to improve its ability to seat families together since last summer."
Yet, other business analysts have made the connections, including Gary Leff, the founder of the tourism website View from the Wing.
Leff declared, "This is a win for the customer, a victory over rivals, and a political victory all rolled into one.
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