Ryanair has announced a significant change to its seating policy, allowing children to sit next to their parents for free on flights. This decision comes after an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) scrutinised the airline’s previous practices, which required families to pay for reserved seating to ensure they could sit together. The new policy aligns Ryanair with standard practices among European carriers and aims to enhance consumer protection.
Previously, families travelling with children faced additional charges, often around £8 per flight direction, to secure adjacent seats. Under the revised system, adults who do not opt for reserved seating will be notified of their complimentary seat assignments after check-in. This adjustment is expected to ease the financial burden on families, making air travel more accessible.
Despite Ryanair’s assertion that this is a minor tweak, the airline’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, expressed frustration over the CMA’s intervention, arguing that their previous policy was consumer-friendly. He claimed that the regulator’s actions could undermine competitive pricing in the airline industry.
Consumer advocates have welcomed the change, viewing it as a victory for families. However, they remain cautious, indicating that they will monitor the implementation of the new policy to ensure that all parents are seated next to their children without incurring charges. This shift could signal a broader trend in the airline industry towards more family-friendly practices.
Source: GB News
