Parents won’t have to pay to sit next to children on planes

Airlines will soon be required to let parents sit with their children on a plane without paying for the privilege.

According to the Department for Transport, parents can be forced to pay up to £104 on a return journey to sit beside their child on a flight.

So the government plans to change the rules so parents or accompanying adults can sit with children aged under 14 free of charge.

“Charging parents just to sit with their children is a rip-off, plain and simple,” said prime minister Andy Burnham.

Unnecessary admin costs to be removed

Airlines also won’t be allowed to charge passengers for making small changes to their booking, such as correcting simple name errors.

The government hopes these changes will give passengers more consistency when travelling by plane.

“People are fed up with these little charges that add up, so I’m putting a stop to them,” the PM continued.

“This is what our everyday fixes are all about. 

“Giving people room to breathe by tackling the small irritations that catch people out, waste their time and cost them money.”

Holidays put parents under financial pressure

If these plans come into effect, they could lead to big savings for mums and dads, as many struggle with the cost of a family holiday.

In a poll by Airbnb, more than two-fifths (42%) of parents with kids aged five to 18 said they feel they have to book a summer holiday, despite being short of money.

But one in three (33%) admitted they’ve used savings to cover the cost, while almost four in ten (38%) have borrowed or been given money by relatives.

“For too many families in the UK, rising costs mean that even a short break is out of reach,” said Lisa Marcais of Airbnb.

What can I do to cut the cost of a holiday?

If you’re worried about the price of booking a holiday, it’s worth looking at where you can trim costs.

For instance, you could travel during off-peak dates, book as early as you can and compare travel websites before booking.

Check out our 60 ideas on how you can cut the cost of a getaway either at home or abroad.