Ryanair Changes Family Seating Policy Amidst Investigation

Ryanair has adjusted its family seating policy, now permitting parents to sit with their young children without an additional reservation fee. This change, which took effect on Thursday, comes after the United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation into the airline's previous policy.

Under the revised policy, adults traveling with children who opt not to pay for a reserved seat will be allocated a free seat after check-in. Ryanair stated this aligns with the practices of most other European airlines. Chief executive Michael O'Leary described the adjustment as a "reluctant" adoption of an "industry standard," while maintaining that the airline's former policy had complied with legal requirements and offered families "certainty."

The CMA's investigation, initiated earlier this month, examined whether Ryanair's former seat reservation approach was unfair under consumer law. The authority noted that the previous policy typically resulted in parents paying an £8 fee each way to sit with their children. The CMA was assessing if the airline was charging parents for obligations, such as ensuring children's safety and accommodating passengers with disabilities, which are mandated by aviation rules.

Ryanair had argued that its previous policy provided families with the assurance of knowing their seating arrangements at the time of booking. The airline indicated that the newly allocated free seats for parents will generally be located at the rear of the aircraft, as front rows are often subject to reservation fees. The company does not anticipate this policy modification to impact its revenue.

O'Leary expressed dissatisfaction with the CMA's focus on Ryanair's family seating policy, which he characterized as "universally embraced by consumers as the most progressive and transparent in Europe." He contended that the CMA was pushing Ryanair toward a less transparent and consumer-friendly model followed by other airlines, rather than fostering competition.

Consumer rights organization Which? had previously raised concerns about Ryanair's seating charges. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, stated that Ryanair should not have required intervention from the CMA to implement fairer practices and that Which? would monitor the implications of the new policy to ensure all parents are seated with their children without charge.