Ryanair to Let Families Sit Together for Free Following Regulatory Pressure
In a major policy shift, Ryanair has announced that it will now allow parents and their young children to sit together without paying extra, following an investigation by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Until now, the low-cost airline charged families a seat reservation fee—typically around $10.70 per adult, per flight—to guarantee that up to four children aged 2 to 11 could be seated next to an accompanying adult. Families who chose not to pay risked being separated during the flight.
Under the new policy, families who do not purchase seat reservations will be automatically assigned seats together for free after check-in. While these seats are expected to be toward the rear of the aircraft, the change ensures that parents and children can remain together without additional charges.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said the airline was making the change “reluctantly,” stating that it was aligning with the wider European airline industry standard to avoid lengthy disputes with regulators. He criticized regulators, arguing they misunderstand what is in the best interests of consumers.
The policy change comes after the CMA launched an inquiry into whether Ryanair’s previous seating policy breached consumer protection laws. Although the regulator welcomed the move as “a win for families,” it confirmed that its investigation is still ongoing to determine whether the airline’s revised approach fully complies with legal requirements.
The CMA also noted that the new policy does not erase the fact that many families have already paid what it described as “mandatory family seat” fees in the past.
The decision marks a significant victory for consumer advocates and traveling families, while also bringing Ryanair’s seating policy in line with most other major European airlines.
