Ryanair waives family seating fees amid UK consumer law investigation
The budget airline has reversed its policy of charging parents to sit with young children after the Competition and Markets Authority launched an inquiry into the practice, signaling tighter regulatory scrutiny over hidden travel costs.
Ryanair has abandoned its practice of charging parents a fee to sit next to their young children. The change follows the launch of an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority into whether the previous policy violated consumer law.
Under the revised rules, adults travelling with children who do not purchase a reserved seat will receive a free allocation after check-in. The airline noted that these complimentary seats will generally be located at the rear of the aircraft, as front rows remain reserved.
Previously, the carrier required families to pay a reservation fee, typically £8 each way, to guarantee seating together. The CMA questioned whether this approach effectively forced parents to pay for the airline to meet its own child safety obligations under aviation rules.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary stated the company would reluctantly adjust to this industry standard. He defended the former system as transparent and compliant with the law, arguing it provided families with booking certainty that other carriers do not offer.
The airline does not anticipate the policy adjustment will impact its overall revenue. O’Leary criticized the regulator, claiming the CMA is forcing Ryanair to adopt a less consumer-friendly model simply because it aligns with broader industry practices.
The watchdog welcomed the shift but emphasized that its inquiry remains active. A CMA spokesperson noted that while the change is a win for families, the regulator will thoroughly test whether the new seating allocation genuinely complies with the law.
Consumer rights organization Which? had previously flagged the seating charges as unjustified. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, stated the airline was clearly unhappy about being dragged into doing the right thing and vowed to monitor the policy's real-world application.
This development highlights growing regulatory pressure on budget carriers to eliminate ancillary fees that consumers view as mandatory. For the wider European aviation market, it signals that competition authorities are increasingly willing to challenge pricing structures that shift operational obligations onto passengers.
