American Offers Deal for Kids in Safety Seats

American Airlines Inc. Wednesday offered 50% fare discounts for children under 2 who occupy approved child safety seats instead of sitting on their parents’ laps. Other major airlines matched the plan.

American’s executive vice president for operations, Robert W. Baker, said children under 2 can still fly free as “lap babies” and parents can still place child safety seats in any empty seat for free, but the new fare is the only way to guarantee a seat on crowded flights and a level of safety that cannot be matched on an adult’s lap.

United Airlines Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc. and Northwest Airlines Inc. immediately announced they would match the offer. Other airlines said they were studying American’s plan.

Southwest Airlines Co. already has a child fare. “This is nothing new to us,” said spokesman Ed Stewart. “It’s nice to see them following our lead once again.”

However, the Southwest policy is somewhat more complicated--up to 7% off the cheapest excursion fare, but it can be purchased up to the last minute. And Southwest discourages use of child safety seats free in empty seats, refusing outright to allow their use after reservations reach a certain level.

Jim Hall, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, called American’s move “a courageous act” and noted many reports of accidents in which children in safety seats lived while lap babies died. The board has recommended repeatedly that the FAA require all babies to occupy a child safety seat.

Hall noted that everything on an airliner must be belted in or locked down during takeoff, landing and turbulence, meaning that babies “are the only thing . . . that is not secured.”