Ryanair Family Seat Fees Face UK Probe
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has opened an investigation into Ryanair over fees paid by parents who need to sit with young children. The watchdog says Ryanair’s rules require at least one adult to reserve a paid seat when travelling with children aged two to 11. The case will look at whether the charge is fair and clearly shown during booking.
What Families Need to Know
- One adult must sit with children aged two to 11
- That adult has to pay for a reserved seat
- The fee is usually around £8 each way
- Ryanair says up to four children on the same booking can sit nearby free of charge
- The CMA is checking whether the policy complies with consumer law
The UK’s CMA says the policy applies across most of Ryanair’s UK routes and differs from the approach taken by other major airlines flying from the UK. It is also looking at whether the charge could count as drip pricing, where a customer sees one fare at first but later faces a required extra cost before completing the booking.
The issue is especially relevant for families booking school holidays, beach trips, city breaks or visits to relatives. A low base fare can change once seating rules are added, particularly when the same charge applies on both outbound and return flights. If the CMA later takes action, airlines could face more pressure to show compulsory family costs earlier.
Ryanair rejects the CMA’s claims and says its family seating policy follows the law. Nothing changes for bookings while the investigation is under way, and the regulator has not decided whether Ryanair broke consumer rules. The practical point is to check the seating stage before paying, because families with young children may not be able to skip it.
