Ryanair is under investigation for charging parents extra fees to sit with their children on flights. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced it will examine whether the airline's policy complies with consumer law.
Mandatory Family Seat Policy
According to the CMA, Ryanair requires at least one parent to be seated with children aged between two and 11. The airline enforces this through what it calls a 'mandatory family seat,' typically costing around £8 per journey. While other passengers can choose to pay for seat reservations, parents are effectively compelled to pay for this service.
Consumer Law Concerns
The CMA's investigation focuses on whether Ryanair's approach forces parents to pay for the airline to meet its obligations under aviation rules, including child safety and disability-related requirements. The watchdog aims to determine if the practice is 'in line with consumer law.'
This probe highlights ongoing scrutiny of airline ancillary fees and their impact on families. Ryanair has not yet publicly responded to the investigation.
