Why do children pay the same fare as adults?

Question

Why do children pay the same fare as adults?

Answer 1

They are still regarded as a bottom on a seat, even though its a small bottom.

Answer 2

i thought only children over 12 years of age would pay the same fare as an adult. but they pay the same as adults because they take up one seat like and adult.

Answer 3

I am not for sure who you are travelling on but AA has child fares the only time that there is not a difference between an adult and child is when one is using mileage award tkts

Answer 4

They don't always. I bought transatlantic tickets recently for my three kids and I got a "children's" fare for them.

On long-haul flights, the tickets are so expensive anyway and the savings is minimal. Sometimes I've bought tickets at all the same fare and passed on discounted children's because the grand total came out cheaper...and that's with THREE kids!  

What is annoying on the net is when you have to fill out all the kids ages *and they still don't give a discount*!! Here I was, all excited, thinking that if I have to give their ages, they must have a children's fare. Not! What was the use of having to give all that information anyway if the airline considers anyone over age 2 an "adult"?!?

So some airlines feel that a child takes up just as much seat as an adult, and therefore pays the same. This could be a cost-cutting measure, by not making their staff have to calcute different fares, and the company might be cheaper anyway.

Just don't be suckered into a "children's discount" on one company and overlook lower fares on others who charge the same for every seat.

Answer 5

They take up a seat, just the same as an adult. They receive the same service and it costs the same amount for the airline as it would if an adult was sitting there. There is no reason to charge children less. If anything, kids tend to have trouble sitting still for long periods of time and cause disruption.

Answer 6

They take up the same room as an adult does, and they recieve the same service etc from flight attendants, airport staff ect so there is really no responsibility for airlines to charge less for them.

Answer 7

...because they do not offer half-size seats for half-size people.  They still take up an entire seat, which should cost an entire fare.

Answer 8

Because a seat is a seat whether or not the person sitting in it weighs 25 lbs or 250 lbs.