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Ryanair's New Family Seating Policy Ryanair has changed its family seating policy, after Britain’s competition watchdog launched an investigation into the airline’s charges for parents to sit with their children. Europe’s largest airline said that as of Thursday, adults would be offered “free of charge” seats next to their children after they have checked in for their flight – but at the rear of the plane. All children on the booking will be allocated seats alongside them for no fee. The Investigation and Previous Policy Until now, Ryanair required parents travelling with children aged between two and 11 to pay to reserve what it referred to as a mandatory family seat, while up to four children can sit alongside them without a charge. This prompted the CMA to open an investigation to determine whether Ryanair’s policy at the time was “in line with consumer law”. It found that the fee for a mandatory family seat was typically about £8 each way. The Impact of the New Policy Ryanair said the change would not have an impact on its revenues. The airline's chief executive, Michael O’Leary, accused the watchdog of “turning a blind eye” to the “high fares” charged by airlines on routes with no competition from the Dublin-based carrier. He said: “The CMA has now targeted our family seating policy which has been universally embraced by consumers as the most progressive and transparent in Europe. The Future of Airline Policies “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. We will reluctantly adjust to this industry standard as we don’t want to waste time explaining to misguided regulators how badly they misunderstand what is in the best interest of UK and Europe’s consumers.

Lead: CMA opens probe into Ryanair’s family‑seat chargeThe UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether Ryanair’s mandatory fee for a parent to sit with a child on a flight breaches consumer‑law fairness tests. The regulator says the charge, typically about £8 per leg, may constitute an unfair contract term.CMA launches investigation into Ryanair's mandatory family seat chargeRyanair’s terms require at least one parent to sit with children aged 2‑11, including those with disabilities, and bills the parent a reservation fee. The CMA will examine the wording of the contract, the transparency of the pricing during booking, and whether the practice is unique among major UK carriers.Cost of the mandatory seat and its prevalence across UK routesFee per seat: between €4.50 and €13.50 (≈ £4‑£12), typically £8 each way.Applies to both outbound and return flights on most Ryanair UK routes.Other passengers can reserve seats voluntarily; the fee is not charged to them.The CMA notes that “drip pricing” – hidden fees revealed later in the booking process – was banned in 2024, raising questions about the fee’s presentation.Potential ramifications for low‑cost carriers and consumer pricing transparencyIf the CMA deems the charge unfair, Ryanair could face enforcement action, fines, and a requirement to refund affected passengers. The decision may set a precedent for other budget airlines that currently offer free family seating or automatically allocate seats for children.Other airlines already provide complimentary family seating, meaning Ryanair could lose a competitive edge if forced to alter its pricing model.What the outcome could mean for Ryanair and airline pricing practicesA ruling against Ryanair would likely push the entire low‑cost sector toward clearer, upfront pricing structures, reducing hidden fees. Conversely, if the CMA finds the practice compliant, Ryanair may retain the fee, but heightened scrutiny could encourage voluntary reforms to avoid future investigations.