The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating Ryanair over charges that parents pay to sit next to their children on flights. Multiple outlets report that the probe centers on Ryanair’s booking and seat allocation terms, which require an adult to sit with a child and include a fee of around £8 for that reserved seating arrangement (reported as “each way” by some). The CMA says it will assess whether the practice is consistent with consumer law and whether the terms are fair.
Ryanair has disputed the basis of the investigation and says it complies with relevant regulations. The airline argues it does not charge children for seating next to accompanying adults and that parents typically pay for a reserved seat for one adult, while up to four children on the same booking can receive reserved seats beside them without additional charge. Ryanair also points to safety rules, including that children under 12 must sit with an accompanying adult and that infants sit on an adult’s lap. The CMA’s review is ongoing, with a determination expected once it completes its assessment of Ryanair’s family seating policy and associated fees.
