The UK government has announced plans to prevent airlines charging parents extra to sit with children under 14, alongside measures to remove fees for correcting simple name mistakes on flight bookings.
The proposals would require airlines to seat eligible children with a parent or accompanying adult without an additional charge for that arrangement. Ministers want the changes delivered ahead of next summer’s holiday season.
However, the announcement does not establish that the ban is already in force. The government corrected its published statement on 2 October, removing an erroneous implementation date. It says the reforms will follow Royal Assent of the Civil Aviation Bill. (gov.uk)
What families would gain
In its Department for Transport announcement, the government said charges for a parent and child to sit together could reach £104 across a return journey.
That figure describes a possible charge rather than an average cost or a guaranteed saving for every family.
The proposal covers children aged 13 and younger travelling with an adult. Further implementation details will be needed before passengers can establish exactly how the requirement applies to individual bookings.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham described charging parents to sit beside their children as unfair. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said the reforms were intended to reduce unnecessary costs and make treatment more consistent across airlines operating in the UK. (gov.uk)
How existing seating guidance works
Current Civil Aviation Authority guidance says airlines should aim to seat children under 12 in the same row as their accompanying adult, or no more than one row or aisle away.
That wording differs from the government’s proposed requirement for children under 14 to sit with an accompanying adult without an extra charge.
The CAA also explains that airlines commonly charge passengers to choose particular seats. Extra-legroom seats and seats in preferred parts of an aircraft can cost more.
Families should therefore distinguish between an airline allocating suitable seats together and passengers paying to select specific seats themselves. The announcement does not promise unrestricted free seat selection for every member of a travelling group. (caa.co.uk, gov.uk)
Ryanair changed its policy in June.
The announcement follows regulatory scrutiny of family seating charges earlier this year.
The Competition and Markets Authority announced an investigation into Ryanair in June, examining a policy requiring an adult travelling with children aged two to 11 to purchase a reserved seat.
The regulator said the charge typically cost about £8 each way. It was investigating whether the requirement was unfair and whether unavoidable charges were presented clearly enough during booking.
On 25 June, Ryanair announced that families making new bookings could receive seats beside one another without paying for a reservation, with their allocation provided after check-in.
The airline said families could still pay to choose their seats in advance. It maintained that its previous arrangements complied with relevant laws and regulations. (gov.uk, corporate.ryanair.com)
The regulatory investigation remains separate.
Ryanair’s policy change did not itself establish that the airline had broken consumer law.
The CMA’s current case update lists information and evidence gathering through December 2026 and says no finding of infringement has been made.
It also records a legal challenge by Ryanair concerning the regulator’s information notices. A hearing is listed for 24 to 26 November.
Those proceedings concern the investigation’s information-gathering process. They should not be presented as a final judgment on whether the earlier family seating charges were unlawful.
The distinction matters because the government’s proposed sector-wide rules and the CMA’s examination of one airline are separate developments. (gov.uk)
Airlines question the need for new rules
Industry representatives have challenged the government’s presentation of the reforms.
The Times reported that Airlines UK said its passenger-carrying members already had policies to seat young children with or close to an accompanying adult on the same booking without requiring paid seat selection.
The trade body also said UK airlines already allowed minor name corrections without charge. Its position highlights differences between existing airline policies and the more consistent requirements ministers want to introduce. (thetimes.com)
What passengers should check now
Until implementation is confirmed, families should check their airline’s current seating policy before purchasing optional reservations.
The CAA advises passengers to review booking terms, spell passenger details correctly, and check baggage allowances, which vary between airlines.
For existing reservations, passengers should ask their carrier how it allocates seats to children and accompanying adults. The government announcement alone does not confirm an entitlement to refunds for seating fees already paid. (caa.co.uk, gov.uk)
