Flying with children? Better plan ahead to get seats together

Earlier this month, the Office of Aviation Consumer Protection issued a notice urging U.S. airlines to “do everything in their power” to keep children 13 and younger near their parents when flying.

The office will begin to review all airline policies and consumer complaints four months after the notice is issued.

“This is a big problem because under-13 year olds are sitting next to strangers,” said Kendall Creighton, spokesperson for FlyersRights, a passenger’s rights group. “What happens in case of evacuation, or putting on an oxygen mask? And, it makes for a bad travel experience in general, being split up.”

She said airlines should offer families advanced seating and block more seats to assign to families on flights.

A review of the policies of several big airlines shows that this approach is hardly universal, and some airlines charge higher fares to ensure a child sits next to a parent.

American Airlines

The Fort Worth-based airline will automatically search for seats together the day before departure if a family is traveling with children under 15 and if they do not already have seats assigned, according to the airline’s policy. If seats are limited, American will assign children seats next to at least one accompanying adult.

“It’s important all children are part of the same reservation as the parent(s) so our system recognizes that they are traveling together,” according to the airline policy.

American Airlines advises people to arrive early and bring any required travel documents as you may have to provide proof of age for children under 18.

While at the boarding gate, families with children under two-years-old can ask to board early. Children older than two require their own tickets, and children under 5 cannot travel alone. Infants, or children under two years old, can travel at no additional cost on the lap of a parent.

Additionally, only one diaper bag is allowed per child. For more information about American Airlines policy, click here.

Southwest Airlines

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines famously operates on an open seating basis, allowing passengers to pick their seats when boarding the aircraft.

“Open seating provides a great opportunity for families or groups traveling together to sit together on the aircraft,” Southwest spokesperson Chris Perry said. “Customers traveling on the same reservation receive boarding positions adjacent to one another upon check-in.”

Their boarding groups A, B, and C, are based on check-in time, loyalty participation in their Rapid Rewards program, or through purchase of products such as early bird or upgraded boarding, he said. Check-in begins 24-hours prior to a flight’s departure.

Up to two adults traveling with children six years old or younger may board during family boarding, between the A and B boarding groups, Perry said.

He also encourages families to speak with a customer service agent at the gate for further accommodations. When boarded on the flight, he said families are also encouraged to speak with flight attendants for additional accommodations.

United Airlines

United Airlines suggests passengers book early and select seat assignments when booking a flight to have the best chance to have a child under 15 years of age seated with an accompanying adult. Additional charges may apply.

“If it’s important for your family to sit together, you may want to consider purchasing advance seat assignments, if available, or selecting a different fare option,” according to the website.

If seats are not selected in advance, the airline will try to find adjoining seats for those on the same reservation prior to departure. But the airline warned that families may be split up.

Passengers can call the United Customer Contact Center at 1-800-864-8331, if a child was booked on a separate reservation and you would like to sit together.

“While we strive to seat your family together, seat selections are not guaranteed and may be changed, including in the event of an aircraft substitution,” according to the website.

Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines directs people to contact Delta Reservations if traveling with children older than two and if families want seats together.

Additionally, in 2019, Delta launched a dynamic seat map, which “helps ensure more families are able to sit together based on data from certain routes and flight schedules.”

The airline blocks rows for groups of three or more passengers on a single reservation.

“Delta works closely with our Advisory Board on Disability that provides guidance for ongoing education and investments to ensure an accessible travel experience,” a Delta spokesperson said in a statement. “We have also created innovative seat map displays that provide seating choices in all cabins for customers traveling alone, or with others – including children.”