Budget airline investigated over ‘unfair’ fees for parents to sit with their children
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Low-cost carrier Ryanair is being investigated in the UK for allegedly charging parents a fee to sit next to their own children on flights.
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said Ryanair’s terms and conditions state a parent must sit with their child if aged between two years and 11. However, the airline charges a ‘mandatory family seat’ fee to do so.
Ryanair is being investigated by the UK consumer watchdog. Associated Press
The watchdog is investigating whether the fee – usually around £8 ($15) each way – is “unfair” under consumer law.
It said Ryanair was the only airline flying from the UK to charge such a fee.
“Contract terms are unfair if they put customers at an unfair disadvantage,” the CMA outlined in a press release regarding the matter.
In general, airlines offer to seat children next to a parent or guardian without a fee, or allocate seats together (when possible) automatically during booking for free.
The CMA is investigating whether Ryanair’s approach “may mean parents are being charged for the airline to meet its child safety and disability‑related obligations as set out under aviation rules, to determine whether or not this practice is in line with consumer law”.
Ryanair has hit back at the investigation, calling it “bogus”, and insists its family seating policy “fully complies with all relevant laws”.
The airline charges a 'mandatory family seat' fee during booking. iStock
It said adults travelling with children pay one reserved seat fee, “but can select reserved seats beside them for up to four children on the same booking free of charge”.
“Ryanair looks forward to disproving these false CMA claims,” the airline said.
The CMA said it will look at how the cost is presented to consumers to determine whether they comply with consumer law.
In particular, it will look at whether “the mandatory family seat fee is ‘dripped’ during the booking process and whether consumers are presented with the total price that they will pay”.
The airline regularly makes headlines for its added charges. It is known for carefully weighing bags and slapping travellers with charges for every gram over the allowance.
It can also cost $120 to check a bag at the airport.
Ryanair has a “check-in fee” of around a hundred bucks if you don’t do it online.
If you have an infant under two travellers will have to pay around $50 for the privilege of having them in their lap.
