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Flying with Kids: A Seating Gamble That US Airlines Must Address
Parents across the United States are increasingly frustrated as they pay extra for assigned side-by-side seating to keep their families together on flights, only to find that even this costly measure does not always work. The issue has intensified since Southwest Airlines changed its open-seating policy to assigned seating in January, spotlighting whether airlines are doing enough to ensure families can sit together.
The Broken Promise of Paid Seating
Previously, Southwest operated a "family boarding" stage that allowed parents with children under six to board early and find seats together. Now, like every other major US airline, the system has become a gamble: parents must either pay extra for assigned adjacent seats or opt for a basic fare and hope the airline's computer allocates seats together. All airlines claim they strive to seat parents and children together, but there is no federal law compelling them to do so.
Congress ordered the Department of Transportation to address this issue in 2016, but a decade later, legislation that would prohibit airlines from charging extra for adjacent family seating remains under review and may never be passed. To make matters worse, paying more is no guarantee, as last-minute aircraft changes can lead to new cabin configurations that split families apart.
Real-Life Struggles and Expert Opinions
Southwest customer Ezra A. Cohen took to social media to reveal that he paid for specific seats for his family, including very young children, but they ended up "split up all over the plane." Similarly, Shea Bartlett from Washington, D.C., paid extra to be seated next to her four-year-old on a Delta flight but was still placed in different rows, forcing her to plead with another passenger for a swap.
Even flight attendants face limitations. Marika Mikusova, a former Emirates flight attendant and author, explained that during boarding, their priority is ensuring a smooth and timely departure, focusing on safety procedures rather than reorganising seating plans. While she has personally asked passengers to swap seats out of goodwill, flight attendants cannot order moves, and such efforts often delay boarding.
Safety and Legal Implications
Father of two and CEO of Dollar Flight Club, Jesse Neugarten, argues that airlines must do more, especially for young children. He stated, "Airlines have built pricing models around unbundling fares to make more money, but seating a parent next to a small child shouldn't be treated as an optional add-on. At a minimum, airlines should have clear policies that guarantee adjacent seating for families with young kids, regardless of fare type."
Georgia-based personal injury lawyer Joshua Branch highlighted that this is not just a customer service issue but a safety and liability problem. He emphasised that airlines, as common carriers, are held to a high degree of care. During unexpected turbulence or emergencies, a parent cannot help a child several rows away, and separated minors are vulnerable to risks like sexual assaults. Branch noted, "If a child is assaulted while sitting away from their parents on a plane, this is actionable, meaning that legal action can be taken which would likely prevail."
Advice for Parents and Airline Responses
Experts advise that paying for seat assignments is the most reliable strategy for keeping families together. Neugarten warned against focusing only on the lowest headline price, as basic economy fares often exclude seat selection. Booking family members on separate reservations to save money can make it harder for airlines to seat them together, and waiting until check-in is a gamble, especially during busy travel seasons.
Pre-booking assigned seating also provides legal leverage. Branch explained that if a family pays for adjacent seating and is separated, they have a stronger legal position due to a breach of contract. For those without assigned seating at booking, certified child passenger safety technician Lia Tuso recommends calling the airline immediately and speaking to a gate agent before asking passengers for swaps.
Southwest Airlines stated that for basic fares, seats are assigned at check-in, and they endeavour to seat children under 13 adjacent to an accompanying passenger at no extra cost. If this fails, gate agents can assist or offer the next available flight with adjacent seating. Delta pointed to its website, noting it strives to seat family members together upon request and advises contacting reservations if online options fail.
