Wagner’s bill ensures kids, families sit together on flights for free

Young children would be seated together with their family members on flights without incurring any extra costs under bipartisan legislation introduced on June 15 by U.S. Rep. Ann Wagner (R-MO).

The Fly Together Act of 2023, H.R. 4193, which Rep. Wagner sponsored alongside original cosponsor U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), would direct the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to issue a rulemaking requiring airlines to seat young children with their family members on flights to the greatest extent practicable and at no additional cost within the same class of service, according to a one-page bill summary provided by Rep. Wagner’s staff. 

“Airlines should not be charging parents fees to sit with their children, and my Fly Together Act will eliminate those discriminatory charges so families can have confidence they will be together during air travel,” Rep. Wagner said.

Specifically, H.R. 4193 would prohibit any changes in the seating or boarding policy of an air carrier providing passenger air transportation that has an open or flexible seating policy in place that generally allows adjacent family seating, the summary says.

“Young children should be seated with their parents on an airplane — period. Parents should not have to choose between sitting with their children or saving money on an already costly trip. And it’s not just a cost issue for parents, it’s a safety issue,” said Rep. Wagner, chair of the House Suburban Caucus. “Airplanes are often unfamiliar for young children, and they need their parents next to them to prevent potentially unsafe or stressful situations.”

H.R. 4193 has been referred to the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for consideration.