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US proposes barring airline companies from charging household seating costs

The U.S. Department of Transportation stated on Thursday it is proposing disallowing U.S. and foreign airlines from charging fees to seat families with young children together on a flight if nearby seats are available throughout reservation.

The Biden administration said in February 2023 it planned to compose policies disallowing the fees as officials pressured airline companies to willingly not charge them.

In May, Congress passed legislation that President Joe Biden signed into law directing a ban on the practice.

Biden has repeatedly encountered air providers, calling for brand-new, more stringent customer rules and slamming them for imposing fees.

His administration has actually likewise aggressively moved to block further debt consolidation in the guest airline company market, consisting of successfully blocking a tie-up between JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines and quashing an alliance between JetBlue and American Airlines.

The DOT introduced a household seating dashboard in March 2023 that shows 4 airline companies-- Alaska Airlines, American, Frontier, and JetBlue-- have devoted to guaranteeing household seating without separate charges, the DOT said.

All other large domestic carriers have policies attempting to seat households together but do not guarantee it, the DOT said.

The proposition bars airlines from charging charges to designate seats to kids to sit next to their moms and dads on U.S. flights. Where that is not possible, to offer adjacent seating for numerous young children, airline companies would be needed to seat them throughout the aisle from, in front of, or behind a moms and dad.

The DOT would need refunds or free rebooking when surrounding household seating is not readily available if travelers selected not to take that flight. Airlines might deal with civil charges if they did not comply.

Earlier this week, a U.S. appeals court obstructed the DOT's. new guideline on in advance disclosure of airline company costs pending a full. evaluation of the guideline.

Biden in May 2023 stated his administration would propose new. rules requiring airlines to compensate passengers with money for. substantial flight delays or cancellations when the carriers are. accountable but the DOT still has actually not released a proposal.

(source: Reuters)