Ryanair’s £8 family seat fee under investigation: what it could mean for your holiday budget

If you're planning a summer getaway with the kids, a Ryanair charge that you might not even know about could affect the cost of your holiday.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into the airline's family seating policy, which requires parents to pay around £8 per flight leg to sit next to their children.

At a time when many families are still feeling the impact of rising living costs, the outcome of the probe could make a real difference, affecting how much you pay for low-cost flights in the future.

Why is the CMA investigating?

The regulator is examining whether Ryanair's requirement for at least one parent or guardian to reserve a paid seat next to a child aged between two and 11 complies with UK consumer protection law.

The investigation will consider:

• whether the charges are clearly explained to customers
• whether the terms are fair
• whether families could be entitled to compensation or refunds if the policy is found to breach consumer rules

The CMA will also check whether the mandatory family seat fee is 'dripped' during the online booking journey, where unavoidable charges appear only after an initial headline fare. Price dripping was banned in the UK in 2024. 

The CMA says it understands Ryanair is the only major airline flying from the UK to impose such a charge, and is looking at whether parents are effectively being charged for something airlines may already be required to provide under aviation safety and disability regulations.

If you’re hoping to get away this year and are looking for ways to keep costs down, there are ways to make the costs of flights cheaper. From setting price alerts on websites like Skyscanner, to being flexible on dates and signing up to airline newsletters, check out these smart ways to cut the costs of flights.