Recently, United Airlines announces a new technology to boost the number of seats on flights so that families can seat together close to each other. For say, With the help of this family seating arrangement, children can sit next to an adult without paying an additional fee.
This initiative comes when the US Department of Transportation mandated American Airlines to ensure that children under the age group of 13 must be seated next to an accompanying adult at no additional cost.
This is big news for families, particularly people who often travel with United Airlines along with kids below 13 years. The next time you book flight tickets with children below 12 years of age via United Airlines, you can pick adjacent preferred seats, at no extra charge to sit next to your kid, stated United Airlines on Twitter.
Economy Seats for Adults Accompanying Children
Based on the latest announcement by United Airlines, parents or other adult passengers traveling with the airline and accompanying a child under the age of 12 can book “preferred” seats and regular economy seats while booking air tickets to stay near to the kid throughout the air travel journey on the plane.
This move by United Airlines will allow adults to sit next to their children while traveling on air without paying extra charges. However, air passengers with standard and basic economy class tickets might be affected by the new change by the airline.
Preferred Seats Implementation & Cost
The new amendments by United Airlines will go live the next month. But the airline has already augmented seat availability on the plane. In general, ‘Preferred Seats’ are usually expensive.
According to the media reports, preferred seats of United Airlines may cost $37 each way for an individual on a round trip between Newark, New Jersey, and Los Angeles in August. But if you switch to a flight to the same destination with adjacent seats, United Airlines will not charge an additional cost for the fare difference.
Also read: 7 Reasons To Fly With Lufthansa – A German Air Carrier
Other Airlines Take On Preferred Seating
United Airlines is not alone to take steps toward the preferred seating to enhance family seating on the plane, especially for children below 13 years of age group. Many other airlines also decided to offer family seating options. For instance, Delta Airlines proclaims that the preferred seating approach blocks some rows of seats on the plane to ensure a families seat together.
Delta Airlines told CNBC on Monday that the airline doesn’t charge any fees regardless of the flight ticket or cabin class. Also, the airline will continue to work for passengers on a case-by-case basis to ensure that the family seating needs are met in the best possible manner.
The American Airlines booking portal will auto-search for seats for the main cabin and basic economy passengers during the booking process to ensure family seating together.
Ban on Family Seating Fees Possibility
During the initial days of this month, US President Joe Biden asked legislators to fast-track the ban on family seating fees. From the White House.
Biden stated during the State of the Union address this year that Baggage fees are already bad and Airlines cannot treat children like luggage.
Final Thought
The new technology of United Airlines stands for increasing child seat availability at zero additional cost. This is a new yet big change by the airline focusing on families who travel with kids. This move will make air travel more comfortable for both parents and their children. Also, many other airlines also plan to accommodate family seating requirements. The fee elimination for family seating reflects the government’s efforts to enhance the travel experience for families and their kids during air travel.
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