Final FAA Bill Includes Bennet Provision to Keep Families, Kids Together on Planes at No Extra Cost

Washington, D.C. - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet has secured language in the final FAA Reauthorization bill unveiled today that will assist traveling families. This language incorporates a portion of his LIFT Act amendment to ensure young children can sit with their parents on flights. Bennet secured the LIFT Act as an amendment to the FAA bill when the Senate considered the legislation in April.

"Traveling through a busy airport can be a tough task, let alone when you have young children with you," Bennet said. "Separating kids from their parents on a plane is not safe and often leaves families at the mercy of other passengers who must decide whether to trade seats. These changes are commonsense steps to improve the traveling experience for families and their fellow passengers."

With the transition to new airline policies offering premium seats and boarding options for a fee, families across the country are facing anxiety-inducing challenges and choices. Parents are forced to pay additional fees when checking in to their flight just to ensure they can sit next to their small children on the plane. In many cases, parents must disrupt the boarding process to ask willing passengers to change their seats, despite the fact that these good Samaritans may have already paid additional fees for seats themselves.

Senators Patty Murray (D-WA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) cosponsored the amendment, which is also supported by the National Women's Law Center, First Focus Campaign for Children, and the National Consumers League.