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Senate Considering Bill To Stop Airlines From Charging More For Group Seats

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – Ever have trouble getting seats together on an airplane for your entire family? It's nearly impossible for families of four or more.

Well, Congress is now considering a plan that would change that.

Marlo Greer wonders if her family's summer vacation was worth the extra cost in airfare. In order for her family of four to sit together on the plane, Greer says she paid an additional $59 a seat each way. That's an extra $472 total.

"It's really, really frustrating," she said. "It's the only way we can fly to be able to buy it. Otherwise... you can't have a 3 year old fly by herself."

Her frustration is now the work of Congress, as senators consider an amendment to keep airlines from price-gouging families who are trying to sit together.

"I know we're bothering other people unless they really like kids," one woman said.

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The amendment is connected to the periodic reauthorization of the FAA. A typically non-controversial measure that now looks to answer passengers' growing complaints at the airport, from where they sit on the plane to how they get through security.

"Americans think travel is their birthright," travel market analyst Ralf Garrison said.

Garrison says the airlines are being targeted for fees concocted to keep airlines afloat.

"They could have created the problem and then offered to solve it for consumers for a small fee," he said. "That is the American way."

The Senate will vote on the bill before the end of next week. The FAA needs to be reauthorized before July 15.

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