European Union bans airline fees for parents seating children

The European Union has reached a political agreement that prohibits airlines from charging parents extra fees to sit with their children under 14 years old. The reform also bans airlines from levying administrative charges for correcting spelling errors in passenger names and requires transparent upfront pricing for hand‑luggage fees. Existing compensation rules remain unchanged, guaranteeing passengers €250‑€600 for delays of more than three hours. The deal, concluded after lengthy negotiations, still requires ratification by EU member states and the European Parliament before it becomes law and will be phased in during upcoming travel seasons. In parallel, the UK Competition and Markets Authority has opened an investigation into Ryanair’s seat‑allocation charges, highlighting the broader industry impact of the EU measure.