UK Watchdog Probes Ryanair Family Seat Fees

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into Ryanair over charges imposed on parents who want to sit next to their children on flights. The regulator is examining whether the airline’s “mandatory family seat” policy, which typically costs around £8 each way, is unfair under consumer protection laws. Ryanair’s terms require parents to sit with children aged between two and 11, raising concerns that families may be paying extra for a requirement linked to child safety obligations.

The CMA will also assess whether the seat reservation fee is clearly presented during the booking process or added later as an extra charge. According to the watchdog, Ryanair appears to be the only major airline operating from the UK that charges parents in this way, while other carriers generally seat families together at no additional cost. The investigation remains at an early stage, and the CMA has not yet concluded whether any laws have been broken.

Ryanair has strongly rejected the investigation, describing it as “bogus” and insisting its family seating policy complies with all applicable laws. The airline stated that only one adult seat reservation fee is charged per booking, while up to four children can be seated next to that adult free of charge. Consumer group Which? welcomed the CMA’s move, arguing that families should not be forced to pay extra simply to sit with young children during flights.

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