Ryanair allows parents to sit with children free after CMA probe

After the Competition and Markets Authority opened a review into a fee that many families described as unfair, Ryanair said it would stop charging a reserved seat to parents who wish to travel with their children.

Under the old policy, an adult who booked a ticket for a child had to pay a €10 (about £8) fee for a seat adjacent to the child. The fee was a standard in most of Europe, but Ryanair claimed it gave families “certainty” at booking time.

The new rule, first implemented Thursday, now allows a parent to sit next to a child at no extra cost, with the seat automatically allocated in the rear of the cabin because front seats are typically reserved.

In a statement, Ryanair spokesperson Michael O’Leary said the policy change was a reluctant but necessary adjustment to “industry standard”. The airline insists its earlier approach complied fully with the law, but it will continue to monitor the CMA’s assessment.

A CMA spokesperson explained that the investigation would test whether the new policy truly removes “mandatory family seats” and how it affects family travel costs. The agency has said it will keep the case open.

Consumer group Which?, whose earlier report highlighted the fee, said it will keep an eye on the new policy’s implementation and release findings once parents are able to use these free seats in the weeks ahead.

With this move, Ryanair claims it now meets European norms on family seating, but critics argue the change was prompted by regulatory pressure rather than customer demand.