Ryanair investigated over charging parents to sit with their children

The UK Competition and Markets Authority has opened an investigation into Ryanair’s family seating policy, examining whether the airline requires parents to pay extra to sit next to children and whether the charge is disclosed clearly during booking.

The probe, reported on June 11, 2026, centers on families traveling with children aged 2 to 11. Reporting cited by the Guardian said the policy may require at least one parent to reserve a paid seat to stay beside a child, with the cost typically around £8 each way. The Financial Times said the fee is about £8 per flight.

What the CMA is examining

The regulator is looking at whether the policy amounts to an unfair term or drip pricing, a practice where a customer sees extra charges only late in the booking process. The CMA is treating the case as an early-stage consumer-law investigation, not a finding of wrongdoing.

The Guardian reported that Ryanair may be the only major airline flying out of the UK that imposes this charge. The case also has wider implications for how airlines present optional fees and family travel costs.

Ryanair’s response

Ryanair says its family seating policy complies with relevant laws and regulations. The company has dismissed the investigation as bogus or false and said it looks forward to disproving the CMA’s claims.

The airline’s defense is likely to become central if the regulator decides to press ahead. The issue touches both consumer protection and the way low-cost airlines structure ancillary revenue.

Why it matters

The outcome could affect what families pay when booking Ryanair flights in the UK and could shape future rules on how airlines disclose seating charges. The CMA has also gained stronger enforcement powers in recent years, including the ability in some cases to impose penalties without going to court.

For now, the investigation is still at an early stage. The next points to watch are whether the CMA publishes a fuller case notice, whether it broadens the probe to other fee practices, and whether it seeks refunds, penalties or changes to booking disclosures if it finds a breach.