Ryanair is facing a formal investigation by the UK's competition watchdog over the mandatory fee it charges parents to sit next to their children on flights – a policy the airline has branded “bogus”.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) confirmed on Thursday that it is examining whether the budget carrier's family seating arrangements breach consumer law. Under Ryanair's terms, at least one adult must sit with any child aged between two and 11, enforced through a “mandatory family seat” that typically costs £8 each way. The fee is levied on both outbound and return flights, and the CMA said it applies across most of the airline's UK routes.
“CMA investigates Ryanair's £8 fee for parents to sit with children; airline calls probe 'bogus'.”
The watchdog believes Ryanair is the only major airline flying from the UK to impose such a charge. Other carriers either offer to seat children with a parent free of charge or automatically allocate seats together during booking at no extra cost.
The investigation will focus on whether the fee amounts to an unfair contract term. Under consumer law, a term is unfair if it “tilts the balance of rights and responsibilities in the contract too much in favour of the business”. Unfair terms are not legally binding on customers, and the CMA has the power to take enforcement action to stop their use.
The CMA also said it will examine whether the cost of the mandatory family seat is “dripped” into the booking process, meaning consumers may not see the full price until late in the transaction.
Hayley Fletcher, the CMA's senior director of consumer protection, said: “Our investigation will consider Ryanair's approach to family seat reservations and how the cost is presented to consumers to determine whether they comply with consumer law.” She added that extra charges can quickly push up the price for families saving for an affordable summer holiday.
Ryanair reacted furiously, calling the investigation “bogus” and a “failed effort by the Starmer Govt to pretend it cares about consumers”. The airline insists its policy fully complies with all laws. It said adults travelling with children pay one reserved seat fee, but can select seats beside them for up to four children on the same booking free of charge. However, the CMA noted that the parent must still pay the fee to reserve that mandatory seat for themselves.
The airline added: “This bogus CMA investigation … Ryanair looks forward to disproving these false CMA claims during this bogus investigation.”
The CMA stressed that its investigation has just started and it has reached no conclusions about whether Ryanair has broken the law. But with summer holiday bookings underway, the outcome could affect millions of families.