Ryanair has axed its family seating policy – but kids’ fees still add up

Ryanair changed its family seating approach so adults travelling with children who want to sit next to them will no longer pay the seat reservation fee. Under the update, parents will be told after check-in about free seat allocations rather than having to reserve seats in advance, with Ryanair saying the adjustment brings it into line with most other European airlines.

The CMA had been investigating whether Ryanair’s approach to seat reservations could be unfair under consumer law—particularly whether parents were effectively being charged to meet child-safety or disability-related obligations under aviation rules. Ryanair previously charged a reserved seat fee per adult, while allowing parents to select seats beside up to four children for free; the CMA said the typical fee was £8 each way.

Ryanair said the policy change is a “minor policy tweak” and does not expect it to affect revenue, while Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary criticized the CMA for pushing the airline to adopt the “industry standard” approach used by others. The CMA said it will “test that thoroughly,” stressing that it doesn’t change that families had been paying for reserved family seating as part of the old system.