Nocturnal 
Thousands of UK families could save up to £104 thanks to a crackdown on “rip-off” flight charges, after Ryanair confirmed it is scrapping its controversial £8 family seating fee, as reported by LADbible.
The move comes after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into whether Ryanair’s long-standing policy of charging parents extra to sit next to their own children was in line with UK consumer law.
What was Ryanair actually charging for?
Under the old system, parents travelling with children aged between two and 11 were typically asked to pay around £8 each way to reserve what Ryanair called a “mandatory family seat”. According to the CMA, if families didn’t pay, there was no guarantee a parent would be seated next to their child.
Ryanair confirmed the change on 25 June, describing it as a “minor tweak”. Under the new policy, “free parent seats” are now offered towards the rear of the cabin, with children automatically allocated a seat beside their parent at no extra cost. Families who want to choose specific seats, including those at the front of the plane, can still pay a reservation fee if they wish.
In a statement, Ryanair said: “This minor policy tweak will align Ryanair’s family seating policy with that of most other EU airlines.”
Why did the watchdog get involved?
The CMA opened its probe to establish whether Ryanair’s seating policy at the time complied with consumer law, and has said the airline’s decision to change course was made at its own discretion rather than as a formal order.
A CMA spokesperson said: “Ryanair claims its seating policy now complies with the law, and we’ll test that thoroughly.” The watchdog added that if the airline’s claim holds up, it will mean families “no longer have to pay to sit with their children”.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary hit back at the regulator, accusing the CMA of “turning a blind eye” over wider issues affecting passengers, according to the Daily Express.
Separately, JOE has reported that wider changes are being rolled out for flyers, including the scrapping of fees some airlines charge passengers simply to change the name on a booking. Exactly which carriers this applies to, and when it takes effect, hasn’t yet been spelled out in detail, so passengers should check with their airline directly before assuming a fee no longer applies.
Where things stand now
For now, Ryanair’s £8 family seat fee is gone for passengers booking from 25 June onwards, but the CMA’s wider investigation into the airline’s seating practices remains ongoing. The regulator has said it will continue to “test” Ryanair’s claim that its new approach is fully compliant with consumer law.
No other major UK airline has yet confirmed matching changes to their own family seating policies. Families booking flights are advised to read the small print carefully, as policies can still vary significantly between carriers.
