Ryanair changes family seat policy, parents now sit free with children

Ryanair announced a revision to its seat‑allocation rules for families traveling with children. Under the new policy, parents will be assigned a free seat beside their child after check‑in, typically in the rear of the aircraft, without having to pay for a reserved seat. Families that wish to choose seats in advance can still do so by paying the usual seat‑reservation fee.

The change follows a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) investigation into the airline’s previous practice, which required parents to pay for at least one adult seat to sit with up to four children. Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary criticised the regulator, saying the move aligns the airline with industry standards and will not affect ticket prices or revenue. Consumer group Which? welcomed the change but said it should not have required regulatory intervention.

The new system applies to bookings made from 25 June, with seat assignments revealed only after a passenger checks in for the flight.