Sen. Bennet Helps Out Families Traveling By Air
DENVER (CBS4)- U.S. Senator Michael Bennet from Colorado is behind a bill that would make it easier for families traveling by air. The measure would allow additional benefits for parents and those traveling with children.
"It's really frustrating, it's the only way we can fly is to buy it. You can't have a 3-year-old fly by herself," said traveler Marlo Greer.
In order for her family of four to sit together, Greer paid an additional $59 per seat each way.
Her frustration is taking center stage in Congress.
Bennet, a Democrat representing Colorado, is sponsoring the proposal that would allow parents to sit with their children on flights at no extra cost, pregnant women would be allowed to pre-board and the TSA would not be able to separate children from their parents during security screening.
"It tries to make it a little easier for families traveling with kids to know that before getting to the airport that they're going to have seats together when practicable," said Bennet in an April interview with CBS4.
Some people claim the additional fees for preferred seating leaves their children seated next to strangers.
Travel market analyst Ralf Garrison said the airlines are being targeted for fees concocted to keep airlines in the black.
"They could have created the problem and then offered to solve the problem for consumers for a small fee. That's the American way," said Garrison.
Bennet proposed the changes to the Federal Aviation Administration re-authorization bill. The bill is typically a non-issue measure but this year senators aim to answer passengers' growing complaints at the airport from seat assignments to security checkpoints.
The Senate will vote on the bill before the end of next week.
