Ryanair Facing Investigation over 'Harsh' Optional Charge for Parents on Seating
The watchdog said the fee is typically £8 each way and is examining whether Ryanair is charging parents for required child-safety seating.
- The CMA launched an investigation into Ryanair's "mandatory family seat" policy, which typically charges parents £8 each way to sit next to their children on flights.
- Regulators are examining whether parents are effectively paying for the airline to meet child safety obligations, while other carriers seat children with guardians for free or allocate seats automatically.
- Rory Boland, travel editor at Which, praised the probe, stating the group has "repeatedly highlighted Ryanair's harsh approach" to separating families and charging fees for young children.
- Ryanair defended its policy, insisting it "fully complies with all relevant laws" and that parents pay one reserved seat fee but receive seats for up to four children for free.
- Dismissing the investigation as "bogus," Ryanair blamed the Starmer Govt for failing to abolish Air Passenger Duty , claiming the probe distracts from broader aviation policy failures.
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15 Articles
Leaving parents next to their children costs money at Ryanair. The UK competition authority checks the practice – and German consumer protectionists also see an urgent need for action.
Ryanair under scrutiny from UK consumer watchdog over family seating policy
Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers is being investigated by UK competition authorities for charging parents for seats next to their children on flights. The Competition and Markets Authority said it was looking at fare structures imposed on parents by Ryanair to see whether the fee charged for a parent-child seat combination are “unfair.” Ryanair’s terms of carriage state that a parent must be seated next to any of their children who …
The air carrier of Ryanair is under magnifying glass, investigated by the UK competition and consumer protection authority. The case was brought to light by its policy of charging families who want to ensure that children are seated with their parents. According to the investigation, Ryanair allows at least one adult to sit next to children between 2 and 11 years of age, but for that to happen it requires certain seats to be reserved, which enta…
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