UK Competition Authority Investigates Ryanair Over Mandatory Parental Seating Fees

Ryanair is under investigation by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority over mandatory fees charged to parents for sitting next to their children on flights. The airline's terms and conditions require at least one parent to sit with children aged 2-11 through a paid "mandatory family seat" reservation, costing between £4-£12 (typically £8) per flight on both outbound and return journeys. The CMA is investigating whether this practice constitutes an unfair contract term under consumer law, specifically whether parents are being charged for the airline to meet its child safety and disability-related obligations under aviation rules. The watchdog is also examining whether the fee is presented transparently during booking or obscured through "drip pricing"—a practice banned in 2024. Ryanair states it does not charge for children to sit beside a parent, only for the booking fee itself, and notes that other airlines offer similar seating without charging adults for seat reservations. The CMA has stressed it has reached no conclusions about legal violations and the investigation is part of its wider consumer protection work.