2016 US Code
Title 49 - Transportation
Subtitle VII - Aviation Programs
Part A - Air Commerce and Safety
Subpart ii - Economic Regulation
Chapter 423 - Passenger Air Service Improvements
Front Matter

Pub. L. 114–190, title II, §2309, July 15, 2016, 130 Stat. 648, provided that:

"(a) In General.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [July 15, 2016], the Secretary of Transportation shall review and, if appropriate, establish a policy directing all air carriers providing scheduled passenger interstate or intrastate air transportation to establish policies that enable a child, who is age 13 or under on the date an applicable flight is scheduled to occur, to be seated in a seat adjacent to the seat of an accompanying family member over the age of 13, to the maximum extent practicable and at no additional cost, except when assignment to an adjacent seat would require an upgrade to another cabin class or a seat with extra legroom or seat pitch for which additional payment is normally required.

"(b) Effect on Airline Boarding and Seating Policies.—When considering any new policy under this section, the Secretary shall consider the traditional seating and boarding policies of air carriers providing scheduled passenger interstate or intrastate air transportation and whether those policies generally allow families to sit together.

"(c) Statutory Construction.—Notwithstanding the requirement in subsection (a), nothing in this section may be construed to allow the Secretary to impose a significant change in the overall seating or boarding policy of an air carrier providing scheduled passenger interstate or intrastate air transportation that has an open or flexible seating policy in place that generally allows adjacent family seating as described in subsection (a)."

Pub. L. 112–95, title IV, §411, Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 88, as amended by Pub. L. 114–55, title I, §102(i), Sept. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 523; Pub. L. 114–141, title I, §102(g), Mar. 30, 2016, 130 Stat. 323; Pub. L. 114–190, title I, §1102(j), July 15, 2016, 130 Stat. 618, provided that:

"(a) In General.—The Secretary of Transportation shall establish an advisory committee for aviation consumer protection to advise the Secretary in carrying out activities relating to airline customer service improvements.

"(b) Membership.—The Secretary shall appoint the members of the advisory committee, which shall be comprised of one representative each of—

"(c) Vacancies.—A vacancy in the advisory committee shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made.

"(d) Travel Expenses.—Members of the advisory committee shall serve without pay but shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code.

"(e) Chairperson.—The Secretary shall designate, from among the individuals appointed under subsection (b), an individual to serve as chairperson of the advisory committee.

"(f) Duties.—The duties of the advisory committee shall include—

"(g) Report to Congress.—Not later than February 1 of each of the first 2 calendar years beginning after the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 14, 2012], the Secretary shall transmit to Congress a report containing—

"(h) Termination.—The advisory committee established under this section shall terminate on September 30, 2017."

Pub. L. 112–95, title IV, §412, Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 89, provided that: "Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 14, 2012], the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall initiate a rulemaking to require each air carrier operating under part 121 of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations, to post on the Internet Web site of the air carrier the maximum dimensions of a child safety seat that can be used on each aircraft operated by the air carrier to enable passengers to determine which child safety seats can be used on those aircraft."