Ryanair Family Seating Fees Under UK Investigation as Europe Moves to Protect Passenger Rights
Ryanair Family Seating Fees Under UK Investigation as Europe Moves to Protect Passenger Rights
Ryanair is facing scrutiny in the UK over charges imposed on parents who want to sit alongside their children, as European lawmakers move towards stronger passenger protections that would ban airlines from charging families to sit together.
UK Competition Watchdog Investigates Ryanair Seating Charges
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into Ryanair's family seating policy, examining whether the airline's approach could be considered unfair under consumer law.
According to the regulator, Ryanair typically charges around £8 each way through what it describes as a "mandatory family seat" option, which requires at least one parent travelling with children aged between two and 11 to reserve a seat.
The CMA said it is investigating whether parents are effectively being charged for the airline to fulfil child safety and disability-related obligations under aviation regulations.
The watchdog noted that Ryanair appears to be the only major airline operating from the UK that imposes such a fee. Other carriers either automatically seat children with their parents free of charge or provide adjacent seats during the booking process without additional costs.
The regulator stressed that the investigation is still in its early stages and that no conclusions have yet been reached regarding whether Ryanair has breached consumer law.
Ryanair Defends Its Family Seating Policy
Ryanair has strongly rejected the claims, describing the CMA investigation as "bogus" and insisting its policies comply fully with existing legislation.
The airline said parents are required to purchase only one reserved seat and can then select seats for up to four accompanying children at no extra charge.
In a statement, Ryanair argued that its family seating arrangements already ensure children can sit beside an adult travelling with them.
Later in the week Ryanair made a U Turn
Ryanair says it will reluctantly not charge parents to sit next to children
Ryanair has changed its family seating policy to allow parents to sit next to their young children without paying a seat reservation fee, after an investigation was opened.
Adults travelling with children who do not wish to pay for a reserved seat will now be told of their free seat allocation after check-in, which Ryanair said was in line with most other European airlines.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said it would "reluctantly adjust to this industry standard", but insisted its long-standing policy fully complied with laws and had given families "certainty".
It comes after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it was looking into whether the policy was unfair under consumer law.
The CMA said it would test whether the airline's new seating policy complies with the law, and that its investigation continues.
'Minor policy tweak'
Under the old policy, Ryanair said adults travelling with children paid one reserved seat fee, and could select seats beside them for up to four children for free.
This typically led to a fee of £8 each way, the CMA said when it launched its investigation earlier this month.
It said at the time it was looking at whether the airline's "approach to seat reservations may mean parents are being charged for the airline to meet its child safety and disability‑related obligations as set out under aviation rules – and will investigate to determine whether or not this practice is in line with consumer law".
Other airlines offered to seat children next to a parent or guardian without a fee, or allocate seats together automatically during booking for free, it added.
Ryanair said its policy had given families certainty of where they would be sitting at the time of booking, which they had valued.
It said the "free parent seats" will now be available at the back of the aircraft, as front rows tend to be reserved.
The "minor policy tweak" came into effect on Thursday, it said. It does not expect the change to have an effect on Ryanair's revenue.
O'Leary hit out at the CMA for targeting its family seating policy, which he said had been "universally embraced by consumers as the most progressive and transparent in Europe".
"Instead of promoting competitiveness and lower fares for consumers, the CMA is on a mission to force Ryanair to adopt the less transparent and less consumer-friendly family seating policy applied by most other airlines – just because it's the industry standard," he said.
'Dragged into doing the right thing'
A CMA spokesperson said: "Ryanair claims its seating policy now complies with the law, and we'll test that thoroughly. If true, it's a win for families – who will no longer have to pay to sit with their children – and it shows the impact our new powers are having.
"But it doesn't change the fact families have been paying for 'mandatory family seats'. Our investigation remains ongoing."
Consumer rights body Which?, who had previously highlighted Ryanair's seating policy, said it should not have had to report the "unjustified charges" to the CMA to prompt action.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: "It's clear Ryanair is unhappy about being dragged into doing the right thing, so Which? will be monitoring the implications of this policy and whether all parents are seated next to their children without charge over the next few months."
Europe Set to Ban Charges for Seating Children with Parents
While the UK investigation continues, European lawmakers have agreed on reforms that would prevent airlines from charging families to sit together.
Under the proposed rules, children under the age of 14 would be entitled to seats next to their parents or guardians without additional fees.
The agreement forms part of a wider overhaul of EU passenger rights that has been under discussion for more than a decade.
Passenger Compensation Rules Remain Unchanged
Despite pressure from airlines and some EU member states to reduce compensation payments for long delays and cancellations, lawmakers have opted to keep the current system intact.
Passengers will continue to be entitled to compensation ranging from €250 to €600, depending on the distance travelled, when flights are delayed by three hours or more.
Airlines had argued that the rules can result in substantial costs and may encourage carriers to cancel flights rather than operate heavily delayed services, but proposals to lengthen delay thresholds and reduce payouts failed to gain support.
Other Changes Planned for Air Travellers
The reforms will also introduce additional consumer protections, including a ban on airlines charging passengers to correct spelling mistakes on bookings.
Meanwhile, proposals to prohibit fees for carry-on baggage were ultimately abandoned. Instead, ticket sellers will be required to display prices more transparently, including the cost of hand luggage.
Once formally approved by EU member states and lawmakers, the changes will pave the way for stronger protections for passengers travelling across Europe.
For families planning future trips, the reforms signal a growing focus on passenger rights and could eventually bring an end to one of the most controversial fees in air travel.