Ryanair is under investigation by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over allegations that it charges parents fees to sit next to their children on flights.
UK Competition Watchdog Investigates Ryanair “Family Seat” Charges
The CMA said it is examining whether Ryanair’s seating policy, which it says typically results in an £8 charge each way, may be “unfair” under UK consumer law, according to its statement. According to the CMA, Ryanair requires parents traveling with children aged two to 11 to sit together through what the airline describes as a “mandatory family seat” system, which involves an additional charge.
The watchdog said it is assessing whether the airline’s approach to seat reservations may mean parents are effectively paying for the airline to meet child safety and disability-related obligations under aviation rules, according to the CMA’s findings. According to the regulator, Ryanair is currently the only major airline operating from the UK that imposes such a charge. Other airlines either seat families together for free or automatically allocate seats during booking.
While the CMA emphasised that the investigation is at an early stage and that no conclusions have been reached. Ryanair has strongly rejected the investigation, calling it “bogus” and stating that its policy complies fully with applicable laws. Ryanair stated that adults traveling with children pay for one reserved seat but can select seats next to them for up to four children free of charge on the same booking.
CMA Examines Transparency of Ryanair Fees and Consumer Pricing Practices
The CMA said it will also investigate whether Ryanair’s “mandatory family seat” fee is added late in the booking process, potentially affecting how clearly total prices are displayed to consumers, according to the regulator. According to the CMA’s director of consumer protection, Hayley Fletcher, additional fees can quickly increase the cost of family travel and may make it harder for consumers to budget for holidays.
Fletcher said the CMA expects businesses to present the full price upfront and warned that companies failing to do so could face enforcement action, according to the regulator. The investigation forms part of the CMA’s broader effort to reduce cost-of-living pressures and improve transparency in pricing practices, according to the authority.
Under its expanded powers, the CMA can fine companies up to 10% of their global turnover if they are found to have breached consumer law, according to the regulator. The outcome of the investigation could have wider implications for airline pricing policies and how carriers structure seating fees for families traveling with children in the UK aviation market.
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