United adopts new technology to make it easier for families to book seats with their kids

Booking seats on planes has been a simple matter for years now, but booking them in a way where entire families can sit together was a difficult matter to achieve. What would usually happen is that the companies would displace families in different sections of the plane. Now, thi will no longer be the case, as United Airlines announced that their new technology will be able to open up more seats on flights, so that children can sit with their parents, or other adults they are traveling with.

Best of all, the additional service will come at no extra cost, a type of charge that has recently drawn quite a bit of scrutiny from the Biden administration.

According to its announcement, published this Monday, February 20th, the company will allow parents and other adults traveling with a child younger than 12 to access the so-called “preferred” seats. The company will also offer customers to use regular economy seats, if necessary, at the time of booking so that they and the children can sit together.

The new system will apply to travelers with standard and basic economy tickets, and it should come into effect fully in March this year. With that said, United noted that it has already made some moves to expand seat availability, so those flying with this company might expect to start encountering it already.

US airlines can no longer charge family seat fees

As mentioned, the airline said that it would not charge customers any fare difference, even if they switch to a flight to the same destination, if there are adjacent seats. For years, airlines have requested that travelers book preferred location seats on flights, with no extra legroom, and they were often located in the front of the plane.

The US President Joe Biden even turned to the country’s lawmakers, requesting that they fast-track the ban n family seating fees, according to the White House statement. Then, in July last year, the US Transportation Department told the local airlines to do whatever it takes to make sure that children under the age of 13 can sit next to their accompanying adult, for no extra fee.

Biden himself commented on the matter, stating that baggage fees are bad enough, and that it is not acceptable for children to be treated this way. Especially since preferred seats usually vary in price, adding up to $37 per seat on the price of the regular ticket.

Delta Air Lines responded by saying that its solution is to block certain rows of seats, allowing families to sit together. The company’s spokesman said that they do not charge family seating fees, regardless of the ticket class, and that it will always continue to work with its customers on a case-by-case basis to make sure that the families’ needs are met.