Back in 1996, the FAA, after much research and discussion, announced that it would NOT require the use of child safety seats for children under two on airplanes because of the minimal safety risk to families, saying, “the risk for fatalities and injuries to families is significantly greater on the roads than in airplanes.”
Their analyses showed that, if forced to purchase an extra airline ticket, many families would drive instead. Therefore, in the overall transportation picture, adding a child seat requirement would be counterproductive.
In the same press release “The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) supported the FAA’s decision based on current FAA and NHTSA studies that show a mandate could result in another 13 to 42 added family member fatalities over 10 years in highway accidents.”
But if added costs for a child seat mandate that might have resulted in more families driving is an issue, where is the FAA now? USA Today just ran an article titled “Will fares go so high that only the rich can fly?”
It seems that higher fares are peripherally driving highway deaths higher, if the original FAA/NHTSA logic still holds. The structure of the new airline first-checked-bag fees is particularly aimed at families and affects those who can least afford the charges.
The airfares affect all travelers, business or leisure, however, the new airline fees hit families particularly hard. As anyone who has traveled with young children knows, they need lots of stuff — diapers, toys, snacks, bottles, favorite pillows and blankets. And that doesn’t even count souvenirs or presents families might pick up on their travels.
Keeping it to carry-on luggage is particularly tough, especially if families are trying to bring their own meals on board to save money. The new first-checked-bag fees on American, United and US Airways now means at least an additional $60 ($120 round trip) for a family of four. And that’s with just one checked bag each. Not to mention that with US Airways families now have to pay for drinks (even water), as juice boxes are illegal according to TSA rules.
Sending the kids alone? Unaccompanied minor fees are now up to $100 with most American carriers, in some cases double what they were earlier in the year. And if a child gets sick, well, it’s at least $150 per person to postpone the trip within the US with those same carriers. Most carriers allow no waiver any more for a doctor’s note. (Kudos to Southwest, where you still pay just the fare difference.)
No studies are available yet to show how many families might be choosing to drive this summer instead of fly. But even with high gas prices that may make a car trip less appealing, it is a pretty safe bet there will be less children in the air for the remainder of this year and more children endangered on our highways.
It may be time for the government to take another look at the reasoning used back in the 1990s to reign in the use of child seats on aircraft and start applying it to this rash of air fee increases that seem to be targeted directly at families and travelers that can afford them the least.
