Flying with children can be stressful enough with remembering to pack enough wipes, snacks, clothes and more wipes.
On top of what can be expensive flight tickets, airlines are charging parents for assigned seating that would guarantee they sit next to their children. A Consumer Reports petition — with more than 114,000 signatures — calls for American, Delta and United airlines to stop charging families with children age 13 and under to sit together.
The report claims children as young as 2 years old are getting separated from their families on flights. The petition cites safety reasons for the change. “This is a security hazard for the child and a safety threat to all passengers during emergencies. It also puts an inappropriate burden on customers who sit next to an unaccompanied child,” it states.
The U.S. Department of Transportation advises families to book tickets as soon as possible and to understand an airline’s family seating policy. Fees for assigned seating can make air travel cost hundreds of dollars more depending on family size. But what happens if parents can’t pay the upgrade fees for assigned seats?
Charlie Hobart, a United Airlines media relations representative, says the airline has an automated system in place where children will be seated next to at least one parent or guardian after online booking. The airline gives passengers the option to select specific seating assignments for an additional fee, or opt out. If a family opts out, Hobart says gate agents work with families to keep them seated together.
He also said United Airlines will ask for volunteers to give up their seats. “It is in everyone’s interest to have families seated together and in the interest of our crews,” he says.
But family seating accommodations are not a guarantee.
Samara Harris of Lakeview said she was separated from her daughter on a United Airlines flight. Luckily, she said, someone was nice enough to move after her daughter started crying and panicking.
“If she freaked out and cried and nobody moved? I would 100% get off the plane because that’s just not fair to her. I would never put her through that kind of anxiety,” Harris says. “I think air travel is far too expensive and elitist. Kids should sit with their parents. Does anyone want to be on a plane with a screaming and crying 10-year-old? Because when my child has an anxiety attack, it’s awful. Now I can afford to pay extra, but a lot of people can’t.”
While Ana Espinosa-Simonson of Bolingbrook supports the petition, she says, in the meanwhile, she’ll pay the fees for assigned seating.
“I’m just a nut when it comes to traveling, so I would call and do whatever it takes to ensure I am sitting with my son before I get on the plane,” Espinosa-Simonson says.
Parenting and child care expert Tammy Gold advises reaching out to an airline when booking family travel. She also suggests arriving at the airport early to talk to the ticket agent. If you’re not able to get seating together at your first stop, she advises talking to the gate agent and flight attendants.
“Between those … you should be able to get the situation solved. From what I have found, honesty and openness work,” she says.
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She says turbulence or a child needing to go to the bathroom needs to be considered.
“(The) fee is really trouble because it is a safety concern to be away from your children. Even with older children, it could be scary, they need someone to help them navigate the flight,” Gold says.