The UK’s competition watchdog, the CMA, is investigating Ryanair over its mandatory family seat fees, which it claims are ‘unfair’ under consumer law. At least one parent or guardian must sit with children aged between 2 and 11 on flights, leading to an additional booking fee of typically £8.

Under Ryanair’s terms and conditions, parents face these charges to ensure their child is seated beside them for safety reasons. The CMA argues that businesses should disclose total ticket prices upfront rather than tacking on extra costs during the booking process.

While Ryanair offers free reserved seating for children under 12, the CMA highlights that parents are still charged a booking fee to access these seats. Furthermore, the airline has stopped imposing these fees on flights to and from Italy after losing its appeal against an Italian ban in 2024.

Ryanair maintains its family seating policy complies with relevant laws, stating it looks forward to disproving CMA claims during what it calls a “bogus investigation.” The airline’s approach has sparked debate on whether such charges are truly necessary for families traveling together.