Ryanair has announced a policy change that will allow parents flying with young children to avoid seat fees, following criticism from the UK's competition watchdog. The airline stated that a “minor policy tweak” means “free parent seats” will be available in the rear of its aircraft for future bookings.
Background of the Investigation
The move comes two weeks after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced it was investigating the £8 mandatory fee Ryanair charges parents to sit with their children. The CMA said the Irish carrier’s terms and conditions require at least one parent to sit with their children, including those with disabilities, and bills them about £8 per flight to book a seat. The investigation would examine whether this was a breach of consumer law, if passengers weren’t being shown the total price of their flight upfront.
Ryanair's Previous Stance
Ryanair had previously criticised the “bogus investigation”, saying it looked forward to disproving the CMA’s “false” claims. The airline said that “like all adults who select a reserved seat, adults travelling with children pay one reserved seat fee, but can select reserved seats beside them for up to four children on the same booking FREE OF CHARGE”.
Impact of the Policy Change
The new policy aims to address the CMA's concerns by eliminating the fee for parents who wish to sit with their children. According to Ryanair, the free parent seats will be located at the rear of the aircraft, ensuring families can sit together without additional cost. This change applies to future bookings and is expected to benefit thousands of families traveling with young children.
