JetBlue Airways, a prominent airline based in the United States, has introduced a commendable initiative, aligning with three other US-based airlines, to provide a no-fee guarantee ensuring that children aged 13 and below can be seated beside adults traveling with them on the same reservation.
Joanna Geraghty, President and Chief Operating Officer of JetBlue, emphasized the challenges parents face when traveling with young children and expressed the airline’s commitment to ensuring a smooth journey for families choosing JetBlue. This announcement was made in a recent news release.
JetBlue has implemented a streamlined process to identify reservations involving children and accompanying adults without prior seating assignments. Without any additional charges, JetBlue will ensure that a child traveling with at least one accompanying adult is assigned a seat when available.
This policy encompasses passengers booking JetBlue’s Blue Basic fare, the airline’s equivalent of basic economy. For bookings made within 24 hours of the planned travel, seat assignments may be managed manually by a JetBlue airport staff member.
While JetBlue encourages passengers to proactively select their seats during the booking process, there are specific terms and conditions associated with this guarantee. Notably, once seats are assigned to their children, customers will not have the flexibility to make additional seat changes.
JetBlue’s announcement aligns with the Biden administration’s recent efforts to eliminate excessive fees for US air travelers. As part of this initiative, the government introduced an online dashboard in March, showcasing airlines that guarantee families can select seats beside each other without incurring extra charges.
Previously, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and Frontier Airlines had already pledged to ensure parents could sit with their young children without incurring additional fees, as acknowledged by the Department of Transportation in a statement issued in March.
JetBlue, headquartered in New York City, now joins the ranks of airlines listed on the dashboard, extending a no-fee family seating guarantee. As outlined on the DOT dashboard, Allegiant, Delta, Hawaiian, Southwest, Spirit, and United are yet to adopt such a guarantee.
