Consumer coalition supports DOT proposal to ban family seating fees, urges action on additional passenger protection issues
November 8, 2024
Media contact: National Consumers League – Melody Merin, melodym@nclnet.org, 202-207-2831
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the National Consumers League (NCL) and six other public interest organizations filed comments supporting the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) proposed rule to ban fees charged to families trying to secure seats next to their children. NCL has long urged DOT to act on this important safety issue and applauds Transportation Secretary Buttigieg for taking the necessary steps toward ending this unjustifiable practice.
“We have a basic right to fly with our children and not pay a junk fee for doing so,” said NCL Vice President of Public Policy, Telecommunications, and Fraud John Breyault. “Parents should not have to choose between an affordable airline seat and their children’s safety. Congress and DOT both reached the right conclusion that ending the airlines’ unjustifiable tax on families is the right thing to do for the flying public.”
NCL also commended DOT for raising questions regarding air carriers’ obsession with add-on fees generally, like charges for providing drinking water to passengers or printing a physical boarding pass. The availability of 24/7 live customer service and seating that meets Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety guidelines were also basic services that the consumer coalition urged DOT to require airlines to provide, fee-free.
“No matter what type of ticket you bought, you should not have to worry if your airplane seat meets FAA safety guidance or if you can receive drinking water on a long flight,” said NCL Public Policy Manager Eden Iscil. “Offering affordable fares is great, but that does not justify skimping on basic consumer protections, especially when it comes to our health and safety. DOT is the only agency in the country with a mandate to regulate these issues. If it doesn’t step in, no one else will.”
The full comments submitted by NCL, the American Economic Liberties Project (AELP), Consumer Action, Consumer Federation of America (CFA), FlyersRights, Travelers United, and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group (U.S. PIRG) can be found here.
Further reading:
- Family seating rules are a victory for passenger rights
- Airline passenger advocates hail landmark junk fee rules, including transparency requirements around family seating fees
- Consumer groups file amicus brief supporting DOT’s airline fee transparency rule
- Consumer groups welcome protections in FAA reauthorization agreement, urge continued improvements
- Consumer groups call for moratorium on smaller airplane seats pending FAA safety review
###
About the National Consumers League (NCL)
The National Consumers League, founded in 1899, is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Our mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.
