![]() ![]() The agency noted that it will decide whether regulatory action will be required “to ensure airlines’ seating policies and practices are not barriers to a young child being seated next to an adult family member or other accompanying adult.” The DOT’s Office of Aviation Consumer Protection issued the notice on July 8 and stated that within the next four months (or by early November), it would start monitoring the airlines to see if they have actually made strides to ensure that families are seated together at no extra cost. Department of Transportation (DOT), which earlier this year issued a notice to the airlines asking that they do everything they can to allow children to be seated next to an accompanying adult-free of charge. While the spokesperson added that testing boarding families first “is not an indication of a forthcoming policy change,” it could offer a glimmer of hope to families who are concerned about jostling for seats together when flying Southwest.Įnsuring that children under the age of 13 are able to sit next to a family member at no additional cost recently became a priority for the U.S. When asked about the trial, a Southwest spokesperson confirmed to AFAR that “altering the boarding process for families, which will be tested soon at one innovation station in our network, was mentioned as one idea, of many, in a larger discussion about evaluating the efficiency our boarding process.” An “innovation station” is a term Southwest uses for an airport where it is trying out new programs and ideas. Those families would be required to sit behind row 15 on the aircraft. They need to get on as early as possible to nab adjacent seats-something the carrier is looking into helping them do.ĭuring a media presentation in Dallas this week, Southwest said that it is planning a week-long trial in mid-December that will allow families traveling together to board before group A at four departure gates in Atlanta, industry newspaper Travel Weekly reported. With no preassigned seats, a family intent on sitting together wouldn’t want to wait to get on the flight. (Of course, if they hold positions in group A, they should board then for earlier and better access to seats.) But what this means is that it could still be a bit tricky for some families to find seats all together depending on how many people are in group A and/or how many families are boarding (potentially ahead of your own). Southwest’s current family boarding policy allows adults traveling with children ages six and younger to board after group A and before group B, regardless of what position they hold. Once on board, travelers choose whatever seats are available. Once group A has fully boarded, it’s time for group B, and so on. So, passengers are given a boarding position like A37 or B12. There are three boarding groups-A, B, and C-and up to 60 or so positions within each group. Instead, Southwest gives passengers a boarding position. Others prefer to wait a bit and let the little ones get the last of their wiggles out in the airport before they are confined to a small space for a prolonged period.īut when it comes to Southwest Airlines, the issue is more complicated because of the airline’s long-standing policy of no assigned seating. Some families like to get into their seats as early as possible and get the kids situated before the plane starts to fill up and is harder to navigate. For traveling families, there are two schools of thought when it comes to the ideal time to board a flight. ![]()
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