Ryanair Faces Investigation Over £8 Seating Fee

Ryanair is being investigated for seating fees.

The budget airline is facing an investigation.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority is looking at fees parents pay to sit with their children on flights. At least one parent must sit with children aged 2-11.

Ryanair calls this a 'mandatory family seat', and it costs around £8 each way. Other passengers can reserve seats, but it's not required.

The regulator is checking if Ryanair's seat reservation policy is fair to parents and meets aviation rules.

The regulator will decide if this practice follows consumer law. Ryanair is the only major UK airline with this charge.

Other airlines seat children with parents without extra fees or assign seats together during booking. The investigation will also look at how Ryanair presents these fees to customers.

The investigation has just started, and no conclusions have been made.

The CMA says extra charges can increase holiday costs for families. They will check if Ryanair's family seat policy and pricing are fair and follow consumer law. Businesses must show customers the total price upfront.

Ryanair has responded to the investigation.

Ryanair says its family seating policy is legal and saves families money. They claim not to charge extra for children to sit with parents.

Adults traveling with children pay for one reserved seat, but can choose seats for up to four children without extra fees.

This means parents only pay for one adult seat, and the children's seats are free.

Ryanair says the investigation is 'bogus'.

Ryanair thinks the investigation is a failed attempt by the government to help consumers. They say abolishing air passenger duty would lower fares and help the economy. Ryanair will disprove the claims during the investigation.

The CMA is an independent government department funded by the Treasury.

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