Ryanair Faces Scrutiny for Charging Families to Sit Together on Flights

Ryanair, the budget airline, is currently facing scrutiny in the UK for its practice of charging parents mandatory fees to sit next to their children during flights. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether these seating fees, which may be linked to the airline’s obligations regarding child safety and disability, are “unfair” under consumer law.

According to Ryanair’s policies, at least one parent or guardian must sit with children aged 2 to 11, referred to as a “mandatory family seat.” This requirement comes with a fee—typically around £8 (approximately $10) per flight—allowing parents to secure a seat next to their child, while seat reservations for other passengers remain optional.

UK consumer law mandates that businesses must display the total ticket price upfront, rather than adding extra charges during the booking process. The CMA’s investigation will assess whether the mandatory family seat fee breaches these regulations, noting that Ryanair is believed to be “the only major airline flying out of the UK” that enforces such fees.

While Ryanair’s website does offer free reserved seating for children under 12, the CMA claims that parents and guardians are still charged a booking fee to access these seats. Additionally, the CMA points out that Ryanair has stopped imposing these fees on flights to and from Italy, following a ruling from Italy’s Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) that the airline lost its appeal against in 2024.

“Many families save up for a summer holiday, and we understand that extra charges can quickly increase costs. Our investigation will look into Ryanair’s family seat reservation practices and how these costs are communicated to consumers to determine compliance with consumer law,” stated Hayley Fletcher, the CMA’s senior director of consumer protection. “Over the past year, we’ve urged businesses to ensure customers see the total price upfront—those who fail to do so may face serious consequences from the CMA.”

In response, Ryanair asserted that its family seating policy “fully complies with all relevant laws” and expressed confidence in disproving the CMA’s claims during what it describes as a “bogus investigation.”