Ryanair has altered its family seating policy after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into the airline charging parents to sit with their children on flights. The airline described the change as a “minor policy tweak” that will provide “free parent seats” in the rear of its aircraft for future bookings.
CMA Investigation Prompted Change
Earlier this month, the CMA announced it had opened an investigation to determine whether Ryanair’s previous policy was “in line with consumer law.” Under the old rules, parents traveling with children aged two to 11 were required to pay for a so-called mandatory family seat, typically costing around £8 each way, while children were allocated seats nearby at no extra cost.
Under the revised policy, parents can still choose to pay for a reserved seat, with their children seated alongside them free of charge. Alternatively, they may opt for the new free seating option, which places them at the rear of the cabin after check-in.
Ryanair CEO Criticises Regulator
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary accused the CMA of being “misguided” and “turning a blind eye” to high fares on routes lacking competition. He stated: “The CMA has now targeted our family seating policy which has been universally embraced by consumers as the most progressive and transparent in Europe. Instead of promoting competitiveness and lower fares for consumers, the CMA is on a mission to force Ryanair to adopt the less transparent and less consumer-friendly family seating policy applied by most other airlines – just because it’s the industry standard.”
O’Leary added that the airline would “reluctantly adjust to this industry standard” to avoid wasting time explaining to “misguided regulators” how they misunderstand consumer interests. He noted that under the new policy, families may have to wait until after check-in to learn their seat allocation and are more likely to be seated at the rear of the cabin.
Revenue Neutral Change
Ryanair stated that the policy adjustment will be “revenue neutral.” The CMA was approached for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.
