Additional Coverage:
- Parents are still worried about sitting together with their kids on planes. Here are 8 tips to make sure you do. (businessinsider.com)
Flying with Family? Here’s How to Ensure You All Sit Together
**Traveling with family can be a fantastic adventure, but figuring out airline seating policies? That can feel like a labyrinth!
While an adult being separated on a flight is an annoyance, for families with young children or those caring for travelers with special needs, sitting apart can quickly turn into a full-blown crisis. **
For years, Southwest Airlines was the go-to for families, thanks to its open seating policy. But as of January 27th, after over 50 years of flexible seating, Southwest has joined the ranks of nearly every other commercial airline, now requiring assigned seating. This means all Southwest passengers will now have designated seats and board accordingly.
So, with this major shift and policies varying wildly across carriers, how can you guarantee your family stays together in the sky? We’ve got the insider tips to help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of family seating.
What You Need to Know About US Airline Family Seating Policies
The concern over families being separated on planes has become so widespread that even federal regulators have taken notice. In 2024, the Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed a rule to prevent US airlines from charging parents extra fees to sit next to children under 13. While not yet law, this proposal underscores just how significant this issue has become for travelers.
For now, airline policies are a mixed bag. The DOT’s airline family seating dashboard provides a handy summary of policies across ten major US carriers.
Good news for families flying with Alaska, American, Frontier, Hawaiian, and JetBlue: these airlines guarantee family seating for eligible children at no additional cost. However, Allegiant, Delta, Southwest, Spirit, and United do not.
Your Best Bets for Sitting Together
**1. Pick Your Seats When You Book!
**
This is hands down the simplest and most reliable method.
During the booking process, most airlines offer a seat map where you can select exact locations. Take a moment to click through each passenger on your reservation and assign seats individually.
Websites like SeatMaps.com can even give you a preview of the aircraft layout to help you snag those coveted window seats or extra legroom.
Some airlines are proactive, automatically blocking adjacent seats for minors on a reservation, or making adjustments closer to departure. Knowing these policies upfront can help you choose an airline that aligns with your family’s needs.
Pro Tip: If you’re flying an airline that charges for advanced seat assignments, a good travel credit card with annual travel credits might help offset those costs. Elite status with an airline or purchasing higher fare-class tickets can also waive these fees.
2. Book Everyone on the Same Reservation
Whenever possible, make one booking for your entire family. This simple step makes it much easier for customer service to assist you if any issues arise.
Some airlines, like Alaska, even require children to be on the same reservation to qualify for their guaranteed seat selection policy. Airline systems don’t automatically link separate bookings, even if passengers share a last name, making it much harder to manage seating or make changes across multiple reservations.
Pro Tip: If you’ve already booked separate flights, a quick call to customer service can often link them together.
3. Steer Clear of Basic Economy Fares
Basic economy tickets might seem like a great way to save a buck, especially for larger families. However, these low-cost fares come with significant drawbacks, particularly concerning seat selection.
Most basic economy tickets don’t allow advance seat selection, even if you’re willing to pay. Instead, seats are often assigned automatically at check-in, after higher-paying passengers have made their choices.
This creates unnecessary uncertainty for parents, as you’re far more likely to end up with scattered seat assignments, especially on airlines without guaranteed family seating.
Pro Tip: If basic economy is your only option, contact your airline immediately after booking to inform them you’re traveling with minors. Some carriers may make notes on your reservation or even allow you to upgrade to a fare class that offers seat selection.
4. Minimize Layovers
While layovers can be a good opportunity for little ones to stretch their legs, if sitting together is your top priority, direct flights are your safest bet. This way, you only have one flight to manage instead of two or three.
Pro Tip: If connecting flights are unavoidable, do your homework! Know your arrival and departure gates, and budget plenty of time for food, navigating the airport, and getting to your next flight on time.
5. Timing is Everything: Book Early and Fly Off-Peak
The earlier you purchase your flights, the more flexibility you’ll have with seat selection, as the best seats tend to go first. If you’re stuck with last-minute tickets, contact your airline as soon as you’ve booked to let them know you’re traveling with children.
Choosing less popular travel times can also boost your chances of finding good seats together. Think about flying on Christmas Day itself, which can sometimes be less crowded than the bustling weekend before.
Pro Tip: Many travelers avoid early-morning or red-eye flights, which often means these routes are less full.
6. Double-Check Your Flights (Even if Nothing Seems Wrong)
Even after you’ve locked in your seats, it’s crucial to periodically monitor your flight reservations. Aircraft substitutions and schedule changes are common and can easily disrupt your previously assigned seating.
For example, if your flight is swapped from a larger plane to a smaller one, you could find yourselves in different seats even though your flight number and reservation remain the same. Checking your reservation a few times in the weeks leading up to departure allows you to catch any problems early, giving you time to correct them.
Airline mobile apps often make this process easy and may even allow free adjustments if better seats become available.
Pro Tip: If you see bad weather reports on the horizon, consider proactively reaching out to your airline to change your flights. This could save you an exhausting day at the airport.
7. Arrive Early and Be Prepared to Advocate
Sometimes, even the best plans go sideways. Having extra time at the airport can be a lifesaver when unexpected issues arise, like last-minute equipment swaps that change seating.
Airport customer service agents often have more tools at their disposal on the day of travel than phone representatives do beforehand. Calmly explaining your situation and courteously emphasizing that you’re traveling with minors can often prompt agents to find workable solutions.
Make sure you read all the fine print before you travel so you’re aware of your rights. This knowledge will empower you to make informed decisions if a situation requires immediate action.
Pro Tip: If a seating problem remains unresolved by boarding time, parents still have options. If your booked seats aren’t available and a satisfactory solution can’t be found, you can usually request to be booked on a later flight at no additional cost or even request a full refund.