Ryanair has modified its seating policy, allowing parents to sit next to their children without incurring reservation fees. This change follows an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regarding the fairness of their previous charging structure.
Previously, adults travelling with children often paid a fee to ensure they were seated together. The CMA questioned whether these charges conflicted with consumer law, especially given that other airlines typically assign seats for families at no extra cost. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary stated the airline would reluctantly adopt this industry standard, maintaining that their former policy provided families with booking certainty.
Under the new system, free seat assignments for families will be located towards the rear of the aircraft. Ryanair indicated that the update took effect on Thursday and expects no material impact on company revenue. While the airline defended its previous approach, consumer advocacy group Which? welcomed the move but pledged to monitor the situation to ensure the practice is implemented fairly.
