Ryanair will no longer require parents to pay to secure seats next to their children when traveling as a family. The change applies to reservations made from this Wednesday onwards and comes after an investigation launched in the United Kingdom into the legality of the practice adopted by the low-cost airline.
According to , a publication specializing in economics and business that cites the EFE agency, adults traveling with children and choosing not to pay for seat selection will receive their seat assignment free of charge after checking in. The measure brings the Irish carrier’s policy closer to that already followed by the majority of European airlines.
Until now, Ryanair forced passengers traveling with children between the ages of 2 and 11 to purchase at least one reserved seat. The company justified this requirement with the need to ensure that minors remained seated close to a responsible adult during the flight.
Research in the United Kingdom was at the origin of the change
The change comes just weeks after the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) opened an investigation to assess whether the charge could be considered abusive under British consumer protection legislation.
At issue was a fee of around eight pounds each way, equivalent to approximately 9.3 euros, applied to adults traveling with children. The regulatory body sought to determine whether the company was, in practice, charging parents for fulfilling their safety obligations towards minors.
With the new model, families will be able to continue paying for advance seat selection if they want to select a specific area of the cabin. Those who choose not to will receive an automatic seat assignment after completing the check-in process.
The airline warned, however, that families choosing this option will be more likely to be seated in the rear of the plane. According to the company, seats located in the front rows tend to be reserved first by passengers who pay for their selection.
What changes for families
In practice, passengers are no longer required to pay to ensure that a child travels alongside a responsible adult. Seats will be allocated automatically after check-in, at no additional cost for those who do not wish to choose where to sit in advance.
Still, the ability to select specific seats remains available upon payment. Ryanair considers that this option will continue to be sought after by those who prefer to travel in a certain area of the cabin or guarantee greater flexibility in choosing seats.
Ryanair criticizes regulators’ decision
The change was not received enthusiastically by the carrier’s management. Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said the CMA had pressured the company into adopting a policy that it said was less transparent to consumers.
The official considered that the company is simply aligning itself with the dominant practice in the commercial aviation sector, despite arguing that the system previously used offered greater clarity to passengers at the time of booking.
According to the same source, O’Leary stated that Ryanair will adapt to the standard followed by the majority of European airlines, although he expressed reservations about the conclusions of British regulators. The director also added that he does not intend to prolong the debate with the antitrust authority on the matter.
The new policy takes effect immediately for bookings made now and represents a significant change to one of the company’s most discussed rules in recent years, particularly among families traveling with young children.
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