Don’t Get Separated! A Family Guide to Airline Seating

Traveling with family members across generations presents unique challenges, especially when it comes to airline seating. Whether you’re flying with young children who need constant supervision, elderly parents who require easy access to facilities, or both, ensuring your family stays together during the flight is critical for both comfort and safety.

While many travelers assume they have the right to sit together, you may be surprised to know it’s not guaranteed, but there are things you can do about it. Understanding the rules and knowing how to navigate the system makes all the difference.

In this article, I’ll explain what you need to know so that you don’t get separated. Let’s get started.

Know Your Rights: Family Seating on Airlines

While airlines are not currently required by law to seat families together, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has proposed new rules that would require airlines to seat children aged 13 and under adjacent to at least one accompanying adult at no additional cost.

According to the US Department of Transportation’s Airline Family Seating Dashboard, there are currently five major airlines that voluntarily guarantee adjacent seats for families without extra fees:

1. Alaska Airlines
2. American Airlines
3. Frontier Airlines
4. Hawaiian
5. JetBlue
6. United Airlines (for children under 12)

If you’re flying on these airlines, the staff will automatically search for seats together if you don’t choose them yourself, ensuring children under 13 (or 12 for United) will be seated with at least one accompanying adult; however, the policies of other airlines vary significantly, a fact that can cause confusion and stress for traveling families.

The changes proposed by the DOT, include some important benefits to families:

• Airlines must provide adjacent seating within 48 hours of booking
• No extra fees can be charged for family seating
• If adjacent seats aren’t available, airlines must offer either a refund or free rebooking on the next flight with available family seating
• Airlines must clearly disclose family seating rights during booking
• Violations will result in fines for each incident

It remains to be seen whether these will be implemented under the current administration.

Understand the Airline’s Seating Policies

Before you book flights on an airline, you can review information about the airline’s family seating policies directly on the airline website. Most airlines provide useful information about what to do and not do when booking a flight to best ensure that young children will be seated next to an accompanying adult.

Note: If you are traveling with a child with a disability who you are assisting during the flight to perform a function that is not required to be performed by airline personnel, for example, assistance with eating, and you self-identify to the airline, the airline is required to provide you a seat next to your child in the class of service that you purchased. Airlines may not charge for such adjoining seats, and advance notice or early check-in is required.

Smart Booking for Families Traveling Together

When booking flights for multi-generational family travel, timing and strategy are critical if you want to keep everyone seated together or at least nearby. 

Here’s your step-by-step action plan.

Book Early (6-8 Months Ahead)

The earlier you book your family’s travel, the more likely you will be able to select seats next to each other. Airlines generally know that travelers belong to a single party if all the passengers are on the same reservation, so book everyone on a single reservation to save yourself explaining it later.

1. Reserve seats when you purchase tickets, not later (even if you have to pay a little more).
2. Choose non-peak travel times when more seats are available.
3. Book directly with airlines instead of third-party sites.
4. Note any individual’s mobility issues at booking (even if you have to contact the airline just after booking).
5. Request wheelchair assistance at the time of booking, if needed.

Pro tip: Even if your elder family members don’t need a wheelchair, it’s sometimes helpful to take advantage of the availability because you can pre-board the plane on travel day.

Choose the Right Seats

You may have to give yourself a longer layover time or book only direct flights, but it will be worth it in the end. 

• Select seats in the back of the plane where more family seating is typically available.
• Book aisle seats for elderly family members for easier bathroom and general access.
• Reserve bulkhead seats for families with infants (note: these often lack under-seat storage, which may not work for you).
• Avoid basic economy tickets, which typically don’t allow advance seat selection.

If you are unable to obtain seats together, or if you’re unsure about the status of your seats at booking time, contact the airline directly and ask for help. Even if the airline is unable to seat the entire family together, they may be able to pair up children with adult family members.

If Seats Are Separated at Check-in

Lots can happen between booking and check-in. If you notice at check-in that your family is not seated together, contact the airline immediately.

Your Step-by-Step Trip Day Strategy

Making sure your family seating arrangements are available to you on your travel day takes some basic strategy too, because, after all, the airline isn’t required to seat you together. You’ve done your part up to this point, now get to the finish line with these steps.

1. Print boarding passes for every person in your party – note your boarding groups!
2. Double-check the seating in the app on your phone (I’ve seen my selected seats change after check-in).
3. Pack wisely – snacks, entertainment, and needed medications in the carry-on bags.
4. Arrive early and approach the gate agent with questions or to ask if everyone can board together if your boarding groups are spread out.

Remember that most passengers understand family seating needs and are willing to adjust so families can sit together. Be sure to thank fellow passengers if they make such accommodations and flight attendants too!