DisneyFanatic.com The Latest News, Advice, and Perspective from Disney Fans for Disney Fans!
New legislation could be coming from the Transportation Department that would make flying a lot easier for families with young kids.
For most families across the United States and around the world, a Disneyland or Disney World vacation begins and ends with an airplane ride. Even if they are choosing “cheaper” airlines such as Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines for flights to and from Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, and The Walt Disney World Resort outside Orlando, Florida, the cost of flying can add up, and include an extra charge like a family seating fee.
Credit: MCO
Related: Orlando Airport Prepares to Receive Flood of Spring Breakers
According to The Wall Street Journal, new legislation could be introduced that would target any airlines that charge what President Biden referred to as a “Junk Fee,” such as an extra cost to families trying to secure adjoining seats and fly together.
“The Transportation Department has proposed legislation that would guarantee families flying on U.S. airlines could sit together without additional fees. … In his State of the Union address in February, President Biden said his administration will target additional fees airlines charge for seat assignments, particularly those that families pay so they can sit with their children.”
Frontier Airlines planes parked at Orlando International Airport, Tuesday, April 7, 2020, as U.S. domestic and international carriers slash flights in response to the coronavirus crisis. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)
But even if Congress passes the restricting legislation, it will still take months, if not years, to take effect. In the meantime, the Department of Transportation has launched an airline customer service dashboard that will show which airlines still charge fees to families with kids 13 years old or younger who want to guarantee they will get seats together. Currently, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines and Frontier Airlines are the only carriers in the United States that offer fee-free family seating.
Credit: Orlando International Airport/MCO
Here is the link to that dashboard.
From the announcement of the first direct “Disney to Disney” flight to the near-completion of Brightline’s expansion to Orlando International Airport, the transportation situation for would-be Disney Resort Guests is constantly changing, and we can only hope it continues to change for the better.
We at Disney Fanatic will continue to update our readers on Disney-related stories as more come to light.
