UK Competition Authority Investigates Ryanair Over Mandatory Parental Seating Fees

The Competition and Markets Authority announced on June 11, 2026 that it is investigating Ryanair over its policy of requiring at least one parent to pay for a reserved seat — costing between £4 and £12, typically around £8 each way — in order to sit next to their child aged 2 to 11, including children with disabilities. The CMA says this 'mandatory family seat' fee applies across most of Ryanair's UK routes and that the airline is the only major carrier flying from the UK to impose such a charge, as other airlines either seat families together automatically or do so without an additional fee. The investigation will assess whether the policy constitutes an unfair contract term that tilts the balance of rights too far in the airline's favour, and whether the fee is improperly 'dripped' into the booking process rather than disclosed upfront — a practice banned in the UK in 2024. Ryanair rejected the probe as a 'bogus investigation,' arguing that adults pay only one reserved seat fee while children's adjacent seats are provided free of charge, and that its policy fully complies with all relevant laws. The airline also noted it does not apply the fee on Italian routes following a 2024 ruling by Italy's Civil Aviation Authority. The CMA stressed it has reached no conclusions about whether Ryanair has broken the law and expects to provide an update within six months. Under its strengthened consumer powers, the CMA can fine companies up to 10% of global turnover for breaches and compel refunds.