UK: Crackdown on 'exploitative' airline algorithm that splits up families

Airlines in the UK are facing a crackdown on an "exploitative" algorithm that split ups families on flights so they are forced to pay more to sit together. British Digital minister Margot James described the software as "a very cynical, exploitative means… to hoodwink the general public. Some airlines have set an algorithm to identify passengers of the same surname travelling together," she said to a parliamentary communications committee. They've had the temerity to split the passengers up, and when the family want to travel together they are charged more." Research published by the CAA in October found the likelihood of being split up varied between airlines – and found that it was most likely to happen on Ryanair, where 35% of those surveyed were separated after opting not to pay for allocated seating. <br/>