Ryanair has changed its family seating policy, allowing parents to sit next to their young children without paying a seat reservation fee after regulators launched an investigation into the practice, according to the BBC.
Under the updated policy, families who choose not to purchase reserved seats will receive complimentary seat allocations together after check-in, bringing Ryanair’s approach closer to that used by many other European airlines.
Policy Change Follows Regulatory Scrutiny
The decision comes after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened an investigation into whether Ryanair’s previous seating policy breached consumer protection laws.
According to the BBC, the regulator questioned whether parents were effectively being charged to meet airline obligations requiring young children to be seated alongside a parent or guardian.
Previously, families typically paid around £8 per flight to reserve one seat, allowing accompanying children to be seated nearby at no additional cost.
Ryanair Calls It a “Minor Policy Tweak”
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said the airline had “reluctantly” adopted the industry standard, while maintaining that its previous policy complied with legal requirements and provided certainty for families during booking.
Under the new rules, complimentary family seats will generally be allocated toward the rear of the aircraft, as front-row seats are often reserved.
The airline said it does not expect the change to have a material impact on revenue.
Investigation Continues
Despite the policy update, the CMA confirmed that its investigation remains ongoing.
According to the BBC, regulators will assess whether Ryanair’s revised approach fully complies with consumer law and whether families were previously charged unfairly.
Consumer advocacy group Which? welcomed the change but argued that regulatory intervention should not have been necessary.
The organization said it will continue monitoring whether parents are consistently seated next to their children without additional charges under the new policy.
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