US: Parents, kids separated more often with new airline seating

Air travel experts say holiday periods are ripe for families being separated on airplanes. The US DoT recently decided against implementing a policy that would require airlines to seat minor children next to an accompanying adult. This leaves it up to the discretion of the airlines as to how it handles family bookings. Changes in the airline industry over the past several years have created prime conditions for such situations to arise. First, airlines started packing planes fuller. Second, the airline’s number crunchers realised not every airplane seat is worth the same amount of money. “These problems are just going to occur more frequently,” said one aviation analyst. “It’s a real issue and I don’t think the DoT has done itself any favour by taking a pass on it. The industry also needs…to decide if they want a black eye on this or solve it.” <br/>