When you book a flight with a young child, the idea of being separated from them in the cabin can be stressful. But for families flying Ryanair, ensuring a parent sits next to a child aged 2–11 comes with a mandatory fee of about £8 each way. Now the UK's competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has launched an investigation into whether this practice is unfair under consumer law.
The CMA is looking into whether Ryanair's "mandatory family seat" policy, which requires at least one parent to sit with children aged 2–11 (and also those with disabilities), and charges a fee for that seat reservation, breaches consumer protection rules. The watchdog says it understands Ryanair is the only major airline flying from the UK to impose such a charge. Other airlines either offer to seat children next to a parent without a fee or allocate seats together automatically during booking for free.
“Explaining the CMA investigation into Ryanair's £8 fee for parents to sit with children.”
Ryanair's terms and conditions state that a parent must sit with their child if the child is between two and 11 years old. To guarantee this, parents must pay for what the airline calls a "mandatory family seat." This fee is levied on both outbound and return flights and typically costs around £8 each way, though it can range from £4 to £12 depending on the route. For all other passengers, seat reservation is optional. Ryanair insists that adults travelling with children pay only one reserved seat fee, and can select reserved seats beside them for up to four children on the same booking free of charge. The airline describes the CMA investigation as "bogus" and says its family seating policy "fully complies with all relevant laws."
This investigation comes amid a broader focus by the CMA on hidden or unfair fees in the travel industry. The key legal question is whether Ryanair's contract term is "unfair" under consumer law—meaning it puts customers at an unfair disadvantage. The fairness test asks whether the wording tilts the balance of rights and responsibilities too much in favour of the business. If a term is found unfair, it is not legally binding on customers, and the CMA can take enforcement action to stop businesses using it. The CMA is also examining whether the fee is "dripped" during the booking process (i.e., only revealed late, preventing customers from seeing the total price upfront).
For UK readers, this issue has practical implications. Families saving for an affordable summer holiday can see costs quickly bump up with these extra charges. The CMA's director of consumer protection, Hayley Fletcher, noted that "extra charges can quickly bump up the price for families saving up for an affordable summer holiday." The outcome could force Ryanair to change its policy—and potentially set a precedent for other airlines or industries.
Q: Why is Ryanair being investigated? The CMA is investigating whether Ryanair's mandatory fee for parents to sit with their children (about £8 each way) is an unfair contract term under consumer law. The watchdog says this may mean parents are being charged for the airline to meet its child safety and disability-related obligations under aviation rules.
Q: What does Ryanair say? Ryanair calls the investigation "bogus" and says its policy fully complies with all relevant laws. It argues that parents pay only one reserved seat fee (for the adult) and that children’s seats are free. The airline also says the CMA investigation is a failed attempt by the government to pretend it cares about consumers.
Q: How do other airlines handle this? According to the CMA, Ryanair is the only major airline flying from the UK to impose a charge for seating children with parents. Other airlines offer to seat children with a parent or guardian without a fee, or automatically allocate seats together during booking for free.
The investigation has just started, and the CMA says it has "reached no conclusions about whether Ryanair has broken the law." The watchdog will now examine Ryanair's terms, how the fee is presented during booking, and whether other airlines' practices set a benchmark. If the CMA finds the term unfair, it can order Ryanair to stop charging the fee and potentially seek redress for affected customers. No timeline for a decision has been announced.