UK government to ban airline fees for child seating and booking errors

The UK government has announced plans to ban airlines from charging extra fees for parents to sit with children under the age of 14. The proposed changes, part of the Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill, aim to eliminate what Prime Minister Andy Burnham described as “little charges that add up.” Currently, families can be charged up to £104 for a parent and child to sit together on a return flight.

In addition to seating reforms, the government intends to scrap fees for correcting minor spelling errors or administrative mistakes on flight bookings, which can cost passengers up to £40. These measures are intended to provide greater consistency for all airlines operating within the UK and are expected to be implemented before the next summer holiday season.

Alongside consumer protections, the government is working with airlines and trade unions to develop a new information-sharing system to identify and manage persistently disruptive passengers. This follows reports of over 1,000 serious disruptive incidents in 2025. While consumer groups have welcomed the move, Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary has contested the necessity of the changes, stating that such fees do not currently exist for UK airlines.