Ryanair says it will reluctantly let parents sit with children for free
Ryanair has agreed to allow parents to sit with their young children for free after facing an investigation by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority. The airline will now allocate seats after check-in to comply with industry standards.
Why it matters
This change impacts consumer rights and airline pricing transparency, setting a precedent for how budget carriers handle family seating requirements.
Image source, Getty Images By Jemma Crew Business reporter Published 25 June 2026, 12:47 BST Updated 6 minutes ago Ryanair has changed its family seating policy to allow parents to sit with their young children without paying a seat reservation fee, after an investigation was opened.
The article presents both the airline's perspective and the regulator's concerns neutrally.
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