Ryanair drops seat fee for parents traveling with children

Ryanair has changed its policy to allow parents to sit next to their young children without paying a seat reservation fee, a shift that took effect on Thursday, June 25, 2026. The move follows an investigation launched earlier this month by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority into whether the airline's previous practice was unfair under consumer law.

Under the new policy, adults traveling with children who do not wish to pay for a reserved seat will receive a free seat allocation after check-in. The airline stated these complimentary seats will typically be located at the rear of the aircraft, as front rows are usually reserved. Parents who want to guarantee seats together at the front will still need to pay a fee. Ryanair described the change as a "minor policy tweak" and said it aligns its approach with most other European airlines. The company does not expect the adjustment to affect its revenue.

The CMA's investigation, announced in mid-June, focused on whether Ryanair was charging parents for the airline to meet its child safety obligations under aviation rules. The watchdog noted that Ryanair had been the only major UK airline imposing such a charge, which typically...