Ryanair Lets Families Sit Together Free After CMA Probe
The airline said the change is revenue-neutral and will keep children seated with an accompanying adult without a paid reservation.
- On Thursday, June 25, 2026, Ryanair adjusted its family seating policy, offering "free parent seats" in the rear of its aircraft as a "minor policy tweak" effective immediately.
- The Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation into the airline's previous policy, which required parents to pay about £8 for "mandatory family seats" to sit with children aged two to 11.
- Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary accused the Competition and Markets Authority of "turning a blind eye" to "high fares" charged by airlines on uncompetitive routes, calling regulators "misguided."
- Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, welcomed the move but said his organization will monitor implementation to ensure all parents are seated next to their children without charge over the coming months.
- Under the revised policy, families may wait until check-in for seat assignments and likely sit at the rear of the cabin, though Ryanair insists the change will be "revenue neutral.
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Ryanair 'reluctantly' ends mandatory fees for parents to sit with children amid investigation
Ryanair will "reluctantly" allow parents to sit with their children for free after an investigation into the practice was opened, bringing the airline in line with European industry standards.Previously, Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers charged a fee—typically $10.70 each way per adult—to allow up to four children aged 2 to 11 to sit next to an accompanying adult. Moving forward, families who do not pay to reserve seats will be allo…
The low-cost company Ryanair has been forced to change its fee policy for parents who wish to sit next to their children. And this time, this change is good news for consumers!
Ryanair forced to change family seating rules
Ryanair has just introduced changes to its family seating policy from Thursday, June 25. Now, adults travelling with children aged two to 11 now have clearer options to sit together without having to pay extra for the previous reservation fee on fresh bookings. Before, Ryanair required at least one adult to pay around approximately €9.30 or £8 each way for what it termed a compulsory family… Source
Locoster lets his parents sit next to the kids for free.
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