Move to stop charges for parents to sit by children on flights

The government says it will ensure parents cannot be charged for sitting next to their children on planes if new powers get approval in Parliament.

UK airlines said they adhered to existing rules.

If the Civil Aviation Bill gets approved by MPs, the department for transport says it will consult on scrapping any charges for being seated next to children under the age of 14 or correcting minor errors on flight bookings.

While acknowledging most UK airlines already offer protections against hidden costs, the government said its proposed reforms would provide greater consistency across all airlines operating in the country.

Trade body Airlines UK said it was surprised to see the announcement, adding that UK airlines already allow minor name corrections free of charge. They also follow the regulator's current guidance on seating children under 12 with their accompanying adult.

The Department for Transport says an arrangement to sit together can currently cost a parent and child up to £104 on a return journey.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the proposed rule changes are part of a crackdown on the "little charges that add up" when families plan their holiday trips.

"Charging parents just to sit with their children is a rip-off, plain and simple," he added, and being "hit with a hefty fee for a simple spelling mistake on a booking form isn't right either".

本文の著作権はBBCにあります。