CMA launches probe into Ryanair's mandatory family seat fee

The Competition and Markets Authority has launched an investigation into Ryanair over its policy of charging parents a fee to sit with their children on flights. The regulator announced the probe on Thursday, June 11, 2026, to determine whether the airline's practice complies with consumer protection law.

Ryanair's terms and conditions require at least one adult traveling with children aged two to 11 to reserve what the airline calls a "mandatory family seat." While seat reservations are optional for other passengers, this specific reservation is compulsory for the accompanying adult to secure adjacent seating for the child. The fee for this seat is typically around 8 pounds each way, though the airline's website indicates a range of 4 to 12 pounds.

The CMA's investigation will focus on two primary concerns. First, it will examine whether the charge unfairly requires parents to pay for the airline to meet its own child safety and disability-related obligations under aviation rules. The regulator will assess if this contract term puts customers at an unfair disadvantage. Second, the investigation will scrutinize the booking process to see if the mandatory family seat fee is...