Ryanair has implemented an immediate change to its seating regulations for families, introducing a complimentary seat allocation for parents travelling with children who do not pay for reserved seats. The new policy takes effect from today, June 25, 2026.
New Policy Details
Under the revised rules, adult passengers with children who choose not to purchase reserved seats will receive free seat assignments after check-in. These randomly allocated seats are expected to be positioned towards the rear of the aircraft, as front rows are typically reserved and sell out first. Parents who wish to sit with their children at the front of the plane will still need to pay for reserved seats.
The change follows a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation launched two weeks ago into whether Ryanair was overcharging parents to sit with their children. The CMA stated it would assess if the practice complies with consumer law.
Ryanair's Response
In a statement, Ryanair said: "This minor policy tweak will align Ryanair's family seating policy with that of most other EU airlines, which responds to the desire of Europe's regulators to stifle innovation and progress. The tweak will be revenue-neutral for Ryanair while families will continue saving €billions every year by choosing to travel on Europe's lowest fare airline."
Previously, Ryanair required parents flying with children aged 2 to 11 to pay for a mandatory family seat, typically around £8 each way, with children then assigned adjacent seats free of charge. Children under two had to sit on a parent's lap. The CMA noted that Ryanair was "the only major airline flying out of the UK to impose this charge."
CMA Investigation
Hayley Fletcher, senior director of consumer protection at the CMA, said: "Lots of families save up to afford a summer holiday and we know that extra charges can quickly bump up the price. Our investigation will consider Ryanair's approach to family seat reservations and how the cost is presented to consumers, to determine whether they comply with consumer law."
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary issued a fiery statement, accusing the CMA of "failing consumers" and calling the investigation "bogus" and a "failed effort by the Starmer Government to pretend it cares about consumers." He added: "We will reluctantly adjust to this industry standard as we don't want to waste time explaining to misguided regulators how badly they misunderstand what is in the best interest of UK and Europe's consumers. Under our revised family seating policy, families may have to wait until after they have checked in to find out their seat allocation and are more likely to be seated at the rear of the cabin but at least the CMA will be able to claim they have done something for consumers, but sadly most consumers won't notice."
Impact on Passengers
The policy change means families who do not pay for reserved seats will save money but may end up seated at the back of the plane. Ryanair confirmed that its "long-standing family seating policy fully complies with all relevant laws and regulations" and that it does not charge for children to sit beside a parent, though adults pay a discounted reserved seat fee. The CMA has been contacted for further comment.
