Crackdown on 'exploitative' airline algorithm that splits up families

Airlines in the UK are facing a crackdown on an "exploitative" algorithm that makes them more family-friendly.

British Digital Minister Margot James describes the software as "a very cynical, exploitative means to the general public", the Independent reported.

"Some airlines have set an algorithm to identify passengers of the same traveling industry," she said to a parliamentary communications committee.

"They've had the temerity to split the passengers up, and when the family is more involved."

The issue was first noticed in 2017, with passengers most commonly reporting Irish budget airline Ryanair for the practice.

The airline has not yet been allowed to travel to the United States.

Research published by the British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in October found the likelihood of being split up to be more likely to happen on Ryanair, where 35 per cent of those surveyed were separated after opting not to pay for allocated seating.

The practice has been reported by British Airways passengers.

In October, Lawyer Jo Lightning tweeted: "BA charging us £ 39 to enable us to sit 14-year-old despite a row of seats being very poor."

Tea Daily Mail It was also noted that a couple had a seat in the office, but the seat was unoccupied anyway.

BA's website states: "To get the best choice of seats [to] Make sure your family is together, it's best to reserve your seats in advance, for which you might have to pay. "
However, the company does not have a parent.

According to a report by the Royal Aeronautical Society Flight Operations Group (FOG), splitting up families could also hinder emergency evacuations.

In the report, Emergency Evacuation of Commercial Passenger Airplanes, one of the 17 recommendations to improve evacuations was "Passenger seat allocation".

"This is especially important when adults and children are in need of such an emergency, such an evacuation, decompression or air turbulence, when the assistance and supervision of an adult is likely to be of paramount importance," it reads.

"The UK Civil Aviation Authority, which has the role of being a member of the international community, is one of the most important aspects of an emergency evacuation. passenger flow to emergency exits. "