Budget airline Ryanair is under investigation for its policy of charging parents to be seated with their children on flights. The Competition and Markets Authority is looking into whether this practice aligns with consumer laws. Ryanair has criticized the investigation as baseless and an attempt by the government to feign concern for consumers.
The Irish carrier mandates that at least one parent sits with children aged between two and 11, with the cost typically around £8 each way for what they term a mandatory family seat. While seat reservations are optional for other passengers, the CMA is assessing whether this charge is linked to child safety and disability obligations under aviation regulations.
Comparatively, other airlines provide seating arrangements for children and parents without necessitating a paid reservation or automatically assign seats together during booking. The investigation will also evaluate if Ryanair transparently presents the family seat fee during booking to comply with consumer protection laws.
Ryanair has defended its family seating policy, asserting it complies with all relevant laws and regulations and offers cost savings to families. The airline emphasized that it does not charge children to sit beside their parents, with parents only needing to pay for one reserved adult seat.
The CMA’s scrutiny includes examining how Ryanair discloses the cost of family seat reservations to consumers. The authority aims to ensure that businesses exhibit transparent pricing upfront to avoid potential enforcement actions. Ryanair anticipates refuting the allegations raised by the CMA during the investigation.
