Ryanair has scrapped its controversial charge for parents to sit next to their children, replacing it with a new policy that offers adults a free seat – but only at the back of the plane. The change, described by the airline as a “minor policy tweak”, means that from now on, passengers travelling with children aged between two and 11 who do not wish to pay for seat selection will be allocated a complimentary seat in the rear of the aircraft after they have checked in. Those who still want to choose their own seat, or secure a premium front-row spot, can continue to do so by paying the usual reservation fee.
The move comes after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened an investigation into Ryanair’s previous family seating policy on 11 June 2026. Under the old rules, an adult travelling with a child was required to pay for a “mandatory family seat” – typically around £8 each way – to reserve a seat next to or near their child. The child’s seat was then allocated free of charge. The watchdog said Ryanair was the only major airline flying out of the UK to impose such a charge, with competitors either seating children with parents for free or automatically allocating seats together during booking.
The CMA’s investigation examined whether the mandatory fee amounted to an unfair contract term under consumer law, potentially putting customers at an unfair disadvantage. It also looked into whether Ryanair was effectively charging parents to meet the airline’s own obligations under aviation rules relating to child safety and disability. A third line of inquiry focused on “drip pricing” – whether the charge was added late in the booking process rather than being included in the upfront total price.
Under the revised policy, Ryanair says the change will be “revenue neutral” and aligns its approach with that of most other EU airlines. Parents who opt not to pay for a reserved seat will be automatically seated together with their children, but likely towards the rear of the cabin. The airline stressed that the previous system – whereby adults pay for one seat and children up to four are seated beside them free – has been “universally embraced by consumers as the most progressive and transparent in Europe”.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary hit back at the regulator, accusing the CMA of “turning a blind eye” to the “high fares” charged by airlines on routes where Ryanair does not operate. He called the investigation “bogus” and a “failed effort by the government to pretend it cares about consumers”. In a statement, O’Leary said: “Instead of promoting competitiveness and lower fares for consumers, the CMA is on a mission to force Ryanair to adopt the less transparent and less consumer-friendly family seating policy applied by most other airlines – just because it’s the industry standard.”
He added that Ryanair would “reluctantly adjust to this industry standard” to avoid wasting time “explaining to misguided regulators how badly they misunderstand what is in the best interest of UK and Europe’s consumers”. Under the new approach, O’Leary warned that families who do not pay for seat selection “may have to wait until after they have checked in to find out their seat allocation and are more likely to be seated at the rear of the cabin”. He said the CMA would be able to “claim they have done something for consumers, but sadly most consumers won’t notice”.
The CMA was approached for comment on the policy change. The watchdog’s action forms part of a broader regulatory scrutiny of ancillary fees in aviation, particularly those affecting families, with similar investigations under way by the US Department of Transportation. Ryanair’s business model, which relies heavily on ancillary revenues from services such as seat selection, has long been championed by O’Leary, who has a history of combative statements and cost-cutting.
