Government Plans to End Extra Fees for Families Sitting Together on Flights
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The UK government has announced plans to stop airlines charging extra fees for parents to sit next to their children on flights. Currently, some airlines charge extra money for families who want to sit together.
According to the government, this can cost a family up to £104 on a return journey, meaning the trip there and back. Many families say this cost is unfair, especially for people travelling with young children.
The government is now working on a plan to end these extra charges. The aim is to make sure parents do not have to pay more simply to sit beside their child during a flight.
At the moment, many airlines sell seats separately from the main ticket price. If a family wants to choose seats together, they often have to pay extra for each seat. This system means some families end up paying much more just to stay together during travel.
Supporters of the change say it is especially important for safety and comfort, since young children usually need a parent sitting close to them during a flight. Some people have criticised airlines for using seat selection as a way to make extra profit.
The government has said this move is part of a wider plan to protect passengers and make flying fairer for families. However, it has not yet given an exact date for when the new rules will start.
Airlines have not yet commented publicly on the proposed change. It remains unclear how the new rule would be enforced or whether all airlines would be affected equally.
Vocabulary10 words
- government
- the group of people who run a country
- charges
- amounts of money that must be paid
- return
- a journey there and back again
- flight
- a journey by plane
- airlines
- companies that operate planes
- seat
- a place where a passenger sits
- profit
- extra money a company makes
- passengers
- people travelling on a plane
- fare
- the price paid for a trip
- policy
- an official plan or rule
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Extra charges for families sitting together 2. Up to £104 3. It helps safety and comfort for young children
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The UK government has announced plans to stop airlines charging extra _____ for parents to sit next to their children.
Currently, some airlines charge extra money for families who want to sit _____.
According to the government, this can cost a family up to £104 on a _____ journey.
Many families say this cost is _____, especially for people travelling with young children.
The government is now working on a plan to end these extra _____.
At the moment, many airlines sell _____ separately from the main ticket price.
If a family wants to choose seats together, they often have to pay extra for each _____.
Young children usually need a parent sitting close to them during a _____.
Some people have criticised airlines for using seat selection as a way to make extra _____.
The government has not yet given an exact _____ for when the new rules will start.
Discussion questions
- Do you think airlines should be allowed to charge extra for choosing seats?
- Have you ever had to pay extra to sit near someone in your family while travelling?
- Why do you think seating together is especially important for families with young children?
- What other travel costs do you think should be changed or removed?
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