Move to stop charges for parents to sit by children on flights

Airlines operating in the UK could soon be prohibited from charging parents extra to sit next to their children, under new legislation moving through Parliament.

The Department for Transport plans to launch a consultation to eliminate seating fees for adults accompanying children under the age of 14, as well as penalties for amending small clerical mistakes on ticket reservations. According to the government, family seat selection fees can currently reach as much as £104 for an adult and child on a return journey, while minor booking corrections can cost travelers up to £40.

Ministers hope to enact the rules before next year's summer holiday season begins, assuming the Civil Aviation Bill gains parliamentary approval. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander stated that parents should not have to face financial strain simply to sit beside their children during a flight or to correct a minor booking mistake.

The proposals have provoked pushback from airline representatives, who argue that existing procedures already address these issues. Trade association Airlines UK expressed surprise at the government's announcement, noting that domestic carriers follow Civil Aviation Authority recommendations regarding children under 12 and already permit travelers to amend minor name errors at no cost.

Budget carrier Ryanair rejected claims of hidden seat charges, with chief executive Michael O'Leary dismissing the government's announcement as spin while pointing to recent tax increases on the aviation sector. An easyJet representative also disputed the need for the intervention, stating that the airline has never forced families to purchase seats to sit together and permits free corrections for spelling errors. The carrier pointed out that the primary practical difference in the proposals is raising the applicable age threshold for children from 12 to 14.

Ryanair had previously altered its seating setup in June following scrutiny from the Competition and Markets Authority regarding its seating fees, allowing parents to sit with minors without paying an additional reservation charge.

Consumer advocates have backed the proposed ban. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, argued that requiring families with young children to pay additional fees to remain together is unjust, adding that carriers splitting up family members have prioritized revenue over passenger reassurance.

Beyond booking and seating adjustments, the legislative package includes measures to establish a cross-industry information-sharing framework to monitor persistently disruptive passengers. Official figures indicate that more than 1,000 severe incidents of passenger misconduct were recorded in 2025, including an airborne altercation that forced an aircraft to divert. Airlines UK confirmed it supports the government's focus on tackling unruly behavior on flights.