Ryanair eliminates mandatory family seat fees, allows free seating for parents and children

From 25 June 2026 Ryanair announced that parents travelling with children aged 2‑11 (and later up to 14) will no longer have to pay a mandatory seat‑reservation fee to sit together. Adults who do not select a paid seat will receive a free seat allocation after online check‑in, with families most likely to be placed in the rear of the cabin. Passengers who wish to choose a specific seat, especially in front rows, can still pay the usual reservation charge.

The policy shift follows an investigation by the UK Competition and Markets Authority into whether the previous charge breached consumer‑law rules, and aligns Ryanair with the standard practice of most other European carriers under new EU passenger‑rights regulations. CEO Michael O’Leary described the change as a “reluctant” adjustment, defended the former policy as compliant with law, and criticised regulators for forcing the airline to adopt a less transparent model.

Ryanair says the revision will be revenue‑neutral and that families will continue to save money by travelling with the low‑cost carrier.