Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced new rules to tackle frustrating airline charges, including fees for families wanting to sit together and correcting booking errors. The measures are designed to make air travel cheaper and easier for families.
In a post on X, Mr Burnham asked travellers if they knew the feeling of booking a flight for £50 only for the final cost to reach £100 after additional charges. He pointed to several common frustrations, including paying extra to sit next to family members, correcting mistakes on bookings and being hit with other charges.
“You know that feeling when you book a flight for 50 quid and somehow it ends up costing 100?” he wrote. “Getting seats together, correcting a typo, another charge here and there, it all adds up.”
New rules for families and name corrections
Under the new rules, airlines will be required to seat children under 14 next to a parent or accompanying adult without an additional charge. The Government says families can currently face costs of up to £104 for a return journey to sit together.
Passengers will also be able to correct simple name errors on flight bookings free of charge, with the Department for Transport saying some airlines can charge up to £40 for minor mistakes. Mr Burnham said the changes were designed to help households already facing pressure from the cost of living.
“Parents won't need to pay a penny extra just to sit next to their own children,” he said. “You'll be able to fix any name errors on your booking free of charge.”
Disruptive passenger measures and airline response
The Government is also working with airlines and trade unions on a new system to share information about persistently disruptive passengers. The aim is to allow airlines to identify passengers who have been banned by another carrier and consider extending restrictions to their own flights. More than 1,000 serious disruptive passenger incidents were recorded by airlines in 2025.
Mr Burnham said the measures were about tackling the smaller costs and irritations that can make travelling more stressful. “I know holidays are expensive and these are small things, but hopefully they'll make your trip just that little bit cheaper and easier,” he said. “That's exactly the kind of thing I want this government to keep on fixing.”
The Government has described the measures as part of its wider programme of “everyday fixes”, aimed at reducing unnecessary costs and giving households more financial breathing space. However, airlines have disputed some of the Government's claims. Ryanair said UK airlines already allow children to sit with parents without additional charges and give passengers a grace period to correct minor spelling mistakes.
