United Airlines  To Scrap The Junk Fees For Families Who Are Looking To Sit Next To Their Younger Children. 

United Airlines has a new seat map feature that will help families with children under 12 find seats together free of charge, the airline announced on Monday.

Apparently, United's decision came as "part of the Biden administration’s broader effort to curb what it describes as junk fees."

“We’ll prohibit airlines from charging $50 roundtrip for a family just to be able to sit together,” Biden said in his speech. “Baggage fees are bad enough. Airlines can’t treat your child like a piece of baggage.”

July 08 , 2022 : Office of Aviation Consumer Protection , U.S.A. Notice .

• The Office of Aviation Consumer Protection (OACP) has issued a notice urging U.S. airlines to do everything in their power to ensure that children who are age 13 or younger are seated next to an accompanying adult with no additional charge.
• Although the Department receives a low number of complaints from consumers about family seating, there continue to be complaints of instances where young children, including a child as young as 11 months, are not seated next to an accompanying adult.
• In four months from the date of this Notice, OACP plans to initiate a review of airline policies and consumer complaints filed with the Department. If airlines’ seating policies and practices are barriers to a child sitting next to an adult family member or other accompanying adult family member, the Department will consider additional action consistent with its authorities.  

United Airlines press release said ,

United's new policy is made possible through a series of investments in a new seat map feature that dynamically finds available adjacent seats at the time of booking. The online seat engine first reviews all available free Economy seats and then opens complimentary upgrades to available Preferred Seats, if needed.

Customers traveling with children under 12 will start to see more adjacent seat options immediately and the complete policy change will go into effect in early March.

That's not all ! there are browny points as well - In certain cases when adjacent seats are not available prior to travel - due to things like last minute bookings, full flights or unscheduled aircraft changes – United's new policy also lets customers switch for free to a flight to the same destination with adjacent seat availability in the same cabin. Customers also won't be charged if there is a difference in fare price between the original and new flight.

The decision comes less than a year after federal officials urged U.S. airlines to ensure that families, especially those with young children, are able to sit together with no extra fees. 

The Press release added further , 

"In an era where more families are working in a hybrid environment, they're traveling more often – and they're flying United," said Linda Jojo, Chief Customer Officer for United. "We're focused on delivering a great experience for our younger passengers and their parents and know it often starts with the right seat. We look forward to rolling out more family-friendly features this year."

United customers with children under 12 years old will start to see more adjacent seat options immediately, but the complete policy change will go into effect in early March.

The online seat engine tool will first review all free economy seats. If needed, the tool will make "Preferred Seats" available, the carrier said. 

Last year , the Transportation Department had issued a notice saying carriers "to do everything in their power to ensure that children who are age 13 or younger" are next to an adult in their party at no extra cost. 

"Although the Department receives a low number of complaints from consumers about family seating, there continue to be complaints of instances where young children, including a child as young as 11 months, are not seated next to an accompanying adult," the department said at the time. 

Airlines for America, a group representing Delta Air Lines, United Airlines , American Airlines and others, said,

"U.S. airlines have always worked to accommodate customers who are traveling together, especially those traveling with children, and will continue to do so. Each carrier sets their own policies that fit individual business models."

The carrier also said, 

Today's announcement reflects the investments United has made in its technology and tools. Since last summer, the airline has worked to improve its ability to seat families together more easily by optimizing the airline's seat engine to prioritize families who did not have seats assigned before their day of travel and prioritize adjacent seating for families during schedule changes, aircraft swaps or irregular operations.