Federal Government Proposes Ban on Airlines Charging Extra to Seat Parents Next to Kids

The federal government is seeking to prohibit airlines from charging parents extra to sit next to their children on flights, as part of its effort to tackle what it calls “junk fees” across industries. Under a rule proposed on Aug. 1 by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), airlines would be required to seat children 13 or younger next to their parent or accompanying adult for free. If adjacent family seats—defined as seats next to each other in the same row and not separated by an aisle—aren’t available when a parent books a flight, airlines must allow families to choose between getting a full refund or waiting to see if a seat opens up....