Best U.S. Airlines for Family Travel in 2025

Published on Aug 12, 2025, 7:45 pm CDT

6 min read

AirAdvisor's 2025 study spotlights six U.S. carriers as standouts for families, weighing seating policies, kid meals, strollers, entertainment, pre-boarding, bassinets, lap infant rules, and child restraints. The short list names American, United, Delta, Hawaiian, Alaska, and JetBlue. But policy fine print still matters. The U.S. Department of Transportation's dashboard shows only some airlines guarantee fee-free adjacent seating for children 13 and under. Southwest's move to assigned seating in 2026 will also reshape family boarding. Here is what travelers should know before booking.

Key Points

Why it matters: Family seating policies can add costs and stress, or remove both.
Travel impact: Guarantees vary by airline and fare. Check the rules before you pay.
What's next: Southwest shifts to assigned seating on January 27, 2026.
DOT says only some carriers guarantee free adjacent seating for kids 13 and under.
Bassinets, kid meals, and pre-boarding differ widely by airline.

Snapshot

AirAdvisor, updated August 11, 2025, ranks American, United, Delta, Hawaiian, Alaska, and JetBlue as the best U.S. airlines for families based on eight criteria. Among them, American, Alaska, Hawaiian, and JetBlue publicly guarantee to seat kids 13, or in American's case 14, with an accompanying adult at no extra cost, subject to conditions. United offers a family seating policy centered on children 12 and under and allows free changes if needed, but it is not listed as a blanket guarantee on DOT's dashboard. Delta states it will strive to seat families together on request. Southwest currently uses family boarding and will add assigned seating in 2026.

Background

The DOT launched its Airline Customer Service Dashboard in March 2023 to pressure carriers on consumer commitments, including family seating. On August 1, 2024, DOT proposed a rule to bar so-called junk fees for parents to sit next to young children. As of late 2024, DOT's dashboard shows guarantees from American, Alaska, Hawaiian, Frontier, and JetBlue, with other major airlines offering softer commitments. A parallel shift is underway at Southwest, which will end open seating and sell assigned seats for flights departing January 27, 2026, after opening the new system for purchase on July 29, 2025. For context on that transition, see Southwest Sets Date for Assigned Seating Rollout and Southwest Tightens 'Customer of Size' Policy for 2026. Families should match policies with their route, timing, and fare class.

Latest Developments

DOT's family seating proposal and the guarantees that exist

DOT proposed on August 1, 2024, to prohibit extra fees when adjacent seats are available at booking for children 13 and under. Until any final rule takes effect, DOT's dashboard remains the easiest way to compare commitments. American's customer service plan guarantees adjacent seating for children 14 and under. Alaska and Hawaiian guarantee adjacent seating for children 13 and under, including most basic fares, if certain conditions are met. JetBlue guarantees adjacent seating for children 13 and under, with automatic assignment. United's policy supports seating children 12 and under with an adult at no charge and allows a free change if necessary, which helps in practice but does not display as a blanket guarantee on the DOT tool. Delta states it will strive to seat families together on request.

Southwest's assigned seating will change how families board

Southwest confirmed a major change. Assigned seats begin for flights departing January 27, 2026, with seat selection opening for sale on July 29, 2025. Families traveling on the same confirmation will be grouped together in boarding, and the airline says it will work to seat children 13 and under next to at least one adult. This ends the long-running family boarding window between A and B groups as the primary strategy, which often worked but did not guarantee adjacency. Expect fare bundles that pair extra-legroom or preferred seats with earlier boarding. Families on basic fares will get assignments at check-in or the gate.

Beyond seating, soft-product differences matter

Bassinets are available on select international flights at American, Delta, and United, typically by request and not guaranteed. Hawaiian offers bassinets on many long-haul routes. JetBlue and Alaska do not offer bassinets, though Alaska leans into pre-order food and an onboard Kid's Choice Picnic Pack on eligible flights. Seatback screens are a JetBlue hallmark across most aircraft, while others blend streaming to personal devices with selected seatback systems. Pre-boarding policies vary, often extending to families with a child under two. Stroller and car seat check rules are generally family-friendly across the six airlines.

Analysis

AirAdvisor's ranking reflects a traveler-focused look at what families actually use onboard and at the airport. Still, the crucial split is between airlines that guarantee free adjacent seats for children and those that do not. For cost control and peace of mind, American, Alaska, Hawaiian, and JetBlue align best with the DOT's push by stating clear guarantees, typically for children 13 and under, with American going to 14. United's technology and free-change backstop work well in practice, yet the absence of a dashboard "guarantee" label leaves room for edge cases on full flights or certain fares. Delta's "we strive" language helps when agents have seats to move, but it offers less certainty than a written guarantee. Product touches then tilt choices by route. JetBlue's seatback entertainment helps on domestic legs. Hawaiian's keiki-friendly offering caters to long Pacific crossings. Alaska's snack pack and pre-order help on mid-con flights, while American and United balance global networks with bassinets on selected international services. Families should book early, keep everyone on one record, and verify seating commitments before choosing a fare.

Final Thoughts

The best results come from pairing a clear family-seating guarantee with the cabin features your kids will actually use. If adjacency is non-negotiable, prioritize American, Alaska, Hawaiian, or JetBlue, then compare entertainment, kid meals, and bassinet availability by route. United's policy and tools reduce risk for children 12 and under, and Delta can often accommodate with agent help. Southwest's 2026 switch to assigned seating will simplify choices for many parents who avoided open boarding. Use these differences to plan calmly, save money, and land on the best U.S. airlines for family travel.