Ryanair is under investigation by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over its practice of charging parents to sit with their children on flights. The watchdog will assess whether this policy complies with consumer protection laws.
Mandatory Family Seat Fee
According to the CMA, Ryanair mandates that at least one parent must sit with children aged two to 11, enforced through a 'mandatory family seat' charge typically costing around £8 each way. While other passengers can opt out of seat reservations, parents are required to pay this fee.
The CMA's investigation will determine if Ryanair's approach forces parents to pay for the airline to meet its safety and disability obligations under aviation rules. The watchdog noted that Ryanair is the only major UK-based airline imposing such a fee, with competitors offering free family seating or automatic allocation.
Transparency Concerns
Additionally, the CMA will examine whether Ryanair's fee is 'dripped' during booking—a practice where unavoidable charges are not shown upfront. This follows a broader CMA campaign urging businesses to display total prices clearly.
Hayley Fletcher, the CMA's senior director of consumer protection, stated: 'Families save for holidays, and extra charges can quickly add up. Our investigation will assess whether Ryanair's family seat reservations and pricing comply with consumer law.'
The CMA emphasized it is in the early stages of the probe and has not yet concluded whether Ryanair has broken the law.
