UK regulator starts probe into Ryanair over parent seat fees

11th Jun 2026 07:43

(Sharecast News) - Britain's competition watchdog on Thursday launched an investigation into European budget airline Ryanair on over fees that parents must pay to guarantee a seat next to their children on flights.

The Competition & Markets Authority is investigating whether Ryanair is imposing an unfair contract term under consumer law, by insisting that parents pay £8 for a reserved seat.

"Ryanair's terms and conditions require at least one parent to sit with their children aged 2-11 when they fly. This is done through what Ryanair calls a 'mandatory family seat'," the CMA said in a statement.

"For all other passengers, reserving a seat is optional. This fee applies to both outbound and return flights and typically costs around £8 each way. CMA evidence suggests this approach to seating is used across the majority of Ryanair's UK routes."

It added that the investigation would look at whether parents are being unfairly charged to meet the carrier's child safety and disability‑related obligations as set out under aviation rules.

The CMA said it understood that Ryanair was the only major airline flying out of the UK to impose this charge; others will seat children with a parent or guardian without the need for a paid-for adult seat reservation or allocate seats together automatically for free during the booking process.

Part of the investigation will examine whether the charge is another example of 'drip' pricing, where extra unavoidable charges are added later in the booking process - a practice that is illegal under UK consumer law.

"Lots of families save up to afford a summer holiday and we know that extra charges can quickly bump up the price. 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," said Hayley Fletcher, the CMA's senior director of consumer protection.

"For the past year, we've told businesses to ensure their customers are shown the total price upfront - those who don't face the very real possibility of action."

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com