In brief
Ryanair has announced that parents travelling with children can now sit next to their kids without paying the usual reserved‑seat fee, a shift prompted by a Competition and Markets Authority investigation into the airline's policy. Under the previous system, adults paid a fare of around £8 each way to secure a seat for their child but could still sit together at no cost. The airline claims the new rule aligns with other European carriers and restores certainty for families, while its chief executive Michael O’Leary criticised the regulator for pushing the company to adopt a supposedly less consumer‑friendly standard. Consumer advocacy group Which? and the CMA have said the revised policy will be closely monitored to ensure it truly benefits families.
Ryanair has announced a change to its family seating policy that will allow parents travelling with children to sit together without having to pay the usual reserved‑seat fee, following an investigation opened by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Under the old policy adults paying for a child’s seat—usually around £8 each way—could still settle in the same row as the child but received a free seat for up to four children. The airline said the new rule brings it in line with most other European carriers and provides families with certainty about seating arrangements at booking time.
Chief executive Michael O’Leary described the move as a reluctant adjustment to industry standard, insisting Ryanair’s former stance had complied fully with law and had been a source of “certainty” for families. He criticised the CMA for targeting the airline’s policy, arguing that the regulator was forcing Ryanair onto a “less transparent, less consumer‑friendly” model just because other airlines use it.
The CMA spokesperson clarified that Ryanair’s new policy will be tested to confirm its compliance with consumer law, adding that the investigation into the “mandatory family seats” continues. Consumer rights group Which? expressed surprise that Ryanair had to be pressured to remove unjustified charges and pledged to monitor the policy’s rollout in the coming months.
The updated seating arrangement will apply to rear seats, as front rows remain reserved. Ryanair stated the change will have no effect on its revenue, but the public debate highlights the tensions between cost‑cutting practices and consumer expectations in the airline industry.
