Ryanair is facing a formal investigation by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over its policy of charging parents an £8 fee each way to sit with their children aged two to 11. The regulator suspects the charge may be unfair under consumer law and could amount to illegal drip pricing.
CMA Concerns Over Family Seating Policy
The CMA announced on June 11 that it will examine whether Ryanair's mandatory family seat reservation fee forces parents to pay for the airline to meet its child safety and disability obligations under aviation rules. The regulator has not yet concluded whether the law has been broken but aims to provide answers within six months.
Ryanair, which carried approximately 60 million passengers to, from, and within the UK in 2025, is said to be the only major UK airline imposing such a charge. While some parents are seated with children at no extra cost, the CMA believes the fee applies on most UK routes. Other airlines like British Airways, Jet2, and easyJet typically seat children with parents automatically without additional charges.
Drip Pricing Allegations
The CMA is also investigating whether the fee constitutes drip pricing, a practice banned in 2025 under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act. Drip pricing lures customers with low initial costs then adds unavoidable extras at checkout. Hayley Fletcher, CMA director of consumer protection, warned: 'For the past year, we've told businesses to ensure customers see the total price upfront – those who don't face action.'
Consumer Advocacy Reaction
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, welcomed the investigation, noting that 'Which? has repeatedly highlighted Ryanair's harsh approach to separating families and making parents pay to sit next to young children.' He urged Ryanair to 'stop charging these unreasonable fees today' rather than await the CMA's final report.
Ryanair's Response
Ryanair has strongly rejected the allegations, calling the investigation 'bogus'. A spokesperson told Metro: 'Ryanair DOES NOT charge any fee for children to sit beside their parent or accompanying adult. 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.'
The airline added that the investigation is 'a failed effort by the Starmer Government to pretend it cares about consumers when it has failed to abolish APD, which would immediately deliver lower fares for all consumers and growth for UK aviation and tourism.' Ryanair stated it 'looks forward to disproving these false CMA claims during this bogus investigation.'
Broader Context
The probe comes amid ongoing financial strain on families. A 2024 ABTA survey found 32% of Brits planned to cut holiday spending to cover living costs. The CMA is urging all businesses to review extra charges to avoid scrutiny.
