Some parents assume they will automatically be seated with their kids. Others may end up separated from their families if they are rebooked due to a cancellation. Regardless of the reason, airlines are not legally required to seat families together.

While there is no universal law that mandates parents and children sit together, major airlines in 2026 have implemented policies to ensure that children under 12 are seated next to at least one accompanying adult at no extra cost. The U.S. Department of Transportation has pressured carriers like United, Delta, and American to eliminate "seat selection fees" for families. For example, United's system now automatically scans for adjacent seats for families during the booking process, even for "Basic Economy" tickets. If you find your family is separated on the seat map, the best course of action is to contact the airline directly or speak to a gate agent immediately upon arrival; they are usually authorized to move other passengers to accommodate a child. For low-cost carriers like Ryanair, you may still be required to pay for at least one adult seat to "unlock" free adjacent seats for children. To be 100% safe, always check your seat assignments 24 hours before departure and arrive early at the gate to resolve any last-minute "seating shuffles."