The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened a formal enforcement investigation into Ryanair after receiving hundreds of complaints that parents are being compelled to pay extra to sit next to their children. Under the airline’s policy, at least one adult travelling with a child aged two-to-11 must purchase a so-called “Family Seat” on both the outbound and inbound legs of a journey. The CMA says its initial evidence suggests the fee is typically about £8 each way and applies on the vast majority of routes serving the UK. The watchdog will examine whether the requirement is an “unfair contract term” under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and whether the way the charge is presented breaches rules against misleading pricing practices, sometimes described as “drip pricing”. Senior director of consumer protection Hayley Fletcher noted that many families discover the fee only once they have progressed well into the online booking path, making it harder to compare the true cost of flying with rival carriers. If the CMA concludes that Ryanair has broken consumer law, it can demand legally binding undertakings, seek court orders, or—if the airline refuses—take the matter to the High Court. For business-travel managers, the case is a reminder that ancillary fees can quickly inflate what look like low lead-in fares. Corporate travel buyers that permit travellers to book directly with low-cost carriers could find expense claims rising if the charges are not factored into budgets. Family seat rules also affect employees combining business with leisure travel, a trend that has grown since the pandemic. Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost airline, insists its policy "saves families money" because children under 12 receive a free reserved seat once the adult pays. The Dublin-based carrier claims the CMA’s inquiry is “bogus” and says its seating policy is designed to ensure child safety. The watchdog’s move nevertheless piles additional regulatory scrutiny on an airline that has previously clashed with the UK Civil Aviation Authority over refund practices and with several EU regulators over online pricing transparency. The CMA has not set a deadline for the investigation but typically aims to decide next steps within six months. In the meantime, the authority is inviting evidence from consumers and travel industry stakeholders through an online portal. Should the probe result in changes, other low-cost carriers that charge for family seating may also have to rethink their approach, potentially reshaping ancillary-revenue models across the short-haul market.
Source: CMA press release / The Guardian
