U.S. Reps. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) and Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, today announced the introduction of bipartisan legislation to help keep families seated together on commercial flights. H.R. 3334, The Families Flying Together Act of 2015, would require the U.S. Department of Transportation to direct each airline carrier to notify passengers traveling with minors if seats are not available together at the initial booking stage and for each carrier to establish a policy to ensure, to the extent practicable, that a family is seated together during flight.

“As a parent, seeing other dads and moms struggle with airlines to get a seat next to their young child on a flight is always frustrating,” said Davis.  “Consumers and families continue to experience this problem which adds unnecessary stress, so it only makes sense for airlines to accommodate families, to the best of their ability, on flights.  This bill would benefit families by requiring more seating information at the time of purchase as well as a dedicated policy that guarantees they receive greater consideration when flying.

“Air travel is complicated and expensive enough for families without adding new stresses,” said Nadler.  “Families should not be stuck paying hidden fees, or buying ‘premium’ seats, simply because they wish to be seated together on crowded flights.  It is positively absurd to expect a two or three-year-old to sit unattended, next to strangers, on an airplane.  It is up to air carriers to make their seating policies clear and easily accessible to the public.”

The current bill to authorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expires at the end of September.  Davis and Nadler are working with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to get these provisions included in the upcoming reauthorization.

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