August 19, 2016 Newsletter

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Persuading the airlines to let families sit together
Dear Family Travelers:
Anyone who has flown with young kids lately knows it's not uncommon to find your child has been assigned a seat half a plane away.

Now, finally, thanks to the efforts of Congressmen Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Rodney Davis (R-IL), a provision to alleviate this problem has been included in the latest Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization act that was signed by President Obama July 15.
 


But if you thought that meant the problem has been solved, think again. The Secretary of Transportation has a year to review and, if appropriate, then establish a policy directing air carriers to seat children 13 or under adjacent to an older family member at no additional cost, except, of course if the adjacent seat would require an upgrade or upcharge.

Here's what you can do in the meantime:
  • If this happens to you, contact your congressman and let Congressmen Davis and Nadler know as well. The Secretary of Transportation-whoever that may be after November-needs to see this is a widespread problem.
  • Always preselect seats when you make your reservation and if you can't find seats together, call or Tweet the airline and explain you are traveling
    with young kids
  • Book the entire family on the same reservation-it makes it easier for airline personnel to help.
  • Fly nonstop whenever possible and early in the day.  
  • If budget isn't a big consideration, pay extra for preferred seats to guarantee you will be together.
  • If airline gate agents and flight attendants leave it up to you to arrange a swap, offer the person willing to switch a free drink as a thank you or a snack you've conveniently stashed in your bag.

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