Ryanair investigated over charging parents to sit with children

Ryanair faces scrutiny from the UK's competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), concerning charges imposed on parents who wish to sit next to their children during flights. The CMA is investigating whether these fees, described as "mandatory family seats" and typically costing £8 per journey, violate consumer law by being "unfair." The watchdog noted that Ryanair's terms require parents to sit with children aged two to 11, a requirement fulfilled through these paid seats. The CMA is particularly concerned that Ryanair might be charging parents for the airline to meet its legal obligations regarding child safety and disability accommodations. According to the CMA, Ryanair appears to be the only major airline operating from the UK that levies such a charge, as other carriers either seat children with parents for free or automatically allocate adjacent seats during booking. Ryanair has vehemently rejected the investigation, labeling it "bogus" and asserting that its family seating policy fully adheres to all relevant laws. The airline clarified that adults traveling with children pay for one reserved seat but can select reserved seats beside them for up to four children on the same booking at no extra cost. "This means that parents travelling with children pay for only one (adult) reserved seat but pay nothing for the four other reserved seats for their children travelling with them," Ryanair stated, expressing confidence in disproving the CMA's claims.

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Ryanair called the investigation "bogus" and insisted its family seating policy "fully complies with all relevant laws".