Ryanair Faces CMA Probe Over Family Seating Charges
Europe’s largest low-cost airline, Ryanair, is under investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regarding the mandatory fee it charges parents to sit with their children during flights.
The CMA stated that Ryanair’s terms and conditions require at least one parent to be seated with their children, including those with disabilities, and imposes a fee of approximately £8 per flight for this service.
The regulator is examining whether this constitutes an unfair contract term under consumer law. It has noted that Ryanair appears to be the only major airline operating from the UK to apply such a charge.
Ryanair dismissed the inquiry as a "bogus investigation" and expressed confidence in disproving the CMA’s claims.
Ryanair’s Position on Family Seating Fees
The airline clarified that it does not charge a fee for children to be seated next to their parent or accompanying adult. However, parents and s must pay a booking fee to secure seats beside their children.
According to Ryanair’s policy, at least one parent must sit with children aged 2-11 years old through a "mandatory family seat" arrangement. This fee applies to both outbound and return flights.
The cost of reserving a family seat ranges from €4.50 to €13.50 (approximately £4 to £12), typically around £8 each way. The CMA has found that this pricing model is used on most Ryanair routes departing from the UK. For other passengers, seat reservations remain optional.
CMA’s Investigation Focus
The CMA is investigating whether Ryanair’s practice effectively charges parents for the airline’s compliance with child safety and disability-related obligations under aviation regulations, and whether this practice aligns with consumer protection laws.
The inquiry specifically addresses whether Ryanair’s contract terms are "unfair," meaning they place customers at a significant disadvantage.
Consumer law includes a fairness test that evaluates whether contractual wording disproportionately favors the business over the customer. Terms deemed unfair are not legally enforceable, and the CMA has authority to take enforcement action to prevent their use.
Comparison with Other Airlines
Other airlines typically seat children with a parent or without charging adults for seat reservations or automatically allocate seats together during booking at no extra cost.
Statements from CMA and Ryanair
Hayley Fletcher, CMA senior director of consumer protection, said: "Our investigation will consider Ryanair’s approach to family seat reservations and how the cost is presented to consumers to determine whether they comply with consumer law.
"For the past year, we’ve told businesses to ensure their customers are shown the total price upfront – those who don’t face the very real possibility of action from the CMA."
Ryanair responded by stating that its family seating policy "fully complies with all relevant laws and regulations and saves families money when travelling on the UK’s lowest fare airline."
The airline added: "Like all adults who select a reserved seat, adults travelling with children pay one reserved seat fee, but can select reserved seats beside them for up to four children on the same booking FREE OF CHARGE."
Ryanair further commented: "This bogus CMA investigation is a failed effort by the Starmer government to pretend it cares about consumers when it has failed to abolish APD [air passenger duty] which would immediately deliver lower fares for all consumers and growth for the UK aviation, tourism and wider economy."
Additional Aspects of the CMA Inquiry
The CMA will also assess whether the mandatory family seat fee is "dripped" during the booking process without full transparency. "Drip pricing" refers to the practice where consumers are initially shown a lower price but later encounter unavoidable hidden fees.
The investigation has just commenced, and the CMA emphasized that it has not concluded whether Ryanair has breached the law. The inquiry forms part of the CMA’s broader efforts to alleviate cost of living pressures and protect vulnerable consumers.
Since the introduction of enhanced powers allowing the CMA to fine companies for breaches and secure refunds, the authority has launched investigations into 15 businesses across various sectors including retail, gyms, homeware, and services.
