Ryanair Revises Family Seating Rules
Ryanair has announced a change to its policy regarding family seating, now permitting adults traveling with young children to sit together without incurring a seat reservation fee. This adjustment comes after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) initiated an investigation into the airline's previous practices.
Under the updated policy, parents who opt not to pay for reserved seats will be informed of their complimentary seat allocation after checking in. Ryanair indicated that this revised approach is consistent with the standards adopted by most other airlines across Europe.
Response to CMA Investigation
Michael O'Leary, CEO of Ryanair, stated that the airline would "reluctantly adjust to this industry standard." He maintained that Ryanair's long-standing policy fully complied with existing regulations and provided families with "certainty" regarding their seating arrangements. However, the CMA had been examining whether the previous policy was unfair under consumer law, specifically scrutinizing if the charges for seating were effectively for the airline to meet its child safety obligations.
"Ryanair claims its seating policy now complies with the law, and we'll test that thoroughly. If true, it's a win for families – who will no longer have to pay to sit with their children – and it shows the impact our new powers are having."
— CMA Spokesperson
The CMA confirmed that its investigation is ongoing and will assess whether the airline's new seating policy adheres to legal requirements.
Policy Details and Industry Reaction
Previously, Ryanair's policy required adults traveling with children to pay for one reserved seat, which then allowed them to select seats for up to four children beside them for free. This often resulted in an £8 fee per one-way journey, according to the CMA. The authority highlighted that other airlines either offered to seat children next to a parent without a fee or automatically allocated seats together during the booking process at no additional cost.
Ryanair defended its prior policy, asserting that it offered families the advantage of knowing their seating arrangements at the time of booking. The airline stated that the new "free parent seats" will be located towards the rear of the aircraft, as front rows are typically reserved. This "minor policy tweak" took effect on Thursday and is not expected to impact Ryanair's revenue.
Mr. O'Leary criticized the CMA for targeting its family seating policy, which he described as "universally embraced by consumers as the most progressive and transparent in Europe." He contended that the CMA was pushing Ryanair to adopt less transparent and less consumer-friendly policies prevalent among competitors, simply because they were industry standards.
Consumer Advocacy and Future Monitoring
Consumer rights organization Which?, which had previously raised concerns about Ryanair's seating policy, welcomed the change but noted that it should not have required regulatory intervention. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, commented, "It's clear Ryanair is unhappy about being dragged into doing the right thing, so Which? will be monitoring the implications of this policy and whether all parents are seated next to their children without charge over the next few months."
Source: Ryanair says it will reluctantly let parents sit with children for free