Traveling with young children can be a real challenge. From navigating security to ensuring everyone makes it to the gate on time, the hurdles are endless. Parents must juggle liquids and snacks while keeping track of who needs to remove their shoes. And once you’re finally on the plane, the last thing you want is to be separated from your little ones.
In a recent turn of events, Congress made a significant move to ease some of these travel woes with the FAA reauthorization bill. This legislation not only funds the FAA until September 2017 but also introduces several key benefits for families flying with children.
Key Changes for Families
One of the most noteworthy changes is a new rule that mandates the transportation secretary to create a policy ensuring that children under 13 can sit next to a family member aged 13 or older without paying additional fees. While this doesn’t mean families can book first-class tickets when they’ve only purchased economy, it certainly helps parents keep an eye on their kids during flights without worrying about extra costs.
Additionally, the bill addresses the frustrating experience of lost luggage. Previously, airlines were only required to refund fees if bags were truly lost. Now, if your checked bag arrives more than 12 hours late for domestic flights (or 15 hours for international), airlines must promptly refund any related fees.
Improving Airport Security
The legislation also aims to improve security checks at airports—an area that many dread. With recommendations to keep PreCheck lines open during peak travel hours and increase the number of screening lines, the goal is to streamline the process and make flying less stressful.
Conclusion
While flying may never be a walk in the park, it’s reassuring to know that families can sit together, get compensated for delayed luggage, and face shorter security lines. To learn more about family-friendly travel tips, check out our post on home insemination kits.
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In summary, the new FAA bill is a step forward for families traveling by air, ensuring they can sit together without incurring extra charges, while also addressing the inconvenience of lost luggage and lengthy security lines.