Ryanair has blinked. The budget carrier, notorious for squeezing every last penny out of passengers, today scrapped its controversial policy of charging families for compulsory child seats. Sources inside the airline confirm the U-turn came after a sustained backlash from consumer groups and the threat of legal action under UK consumer law.
The policy, introduced quietly last year, required parents to pay an extra £12 per child for a seat that was already mandatory under aviation safety rules. Critics called it a stealth tax on families. Documents obtained by this paper show Ryanair’s own legal team warned the charge could breach EU and UK regulations on undue financial burden. But the airline pressed ahead anyway, banking on parental desperation.
It backfired. A coalition of watchdog groups, including Which? and the Civil Aviation Authority, launched a coordinated campaign. They argued the fee was not only unfair but potentially illegal under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which prohibits charging for a service that is actually a legal requirement. One leaked internal memo, marked ‘confidential’, admits the airline ‘lacked a robust defence’ for the charge.
For British families, this is more than a small victory. It is a rare moment of accountability in an industry that treats passengers as revenue streams. Ryanair’s bottom line will take a hit, but the real damage is to its reputation. The airline now faces a broader inquiry into its fee structure. Expect more skeletons to fall out of the closet.
I have spoken to half a dozen families who were hit with the charge. One mother, Sarah from Manchester, told me she paid £48 extra for her two young children on a return flight to Alicante. ‘They make you feel like a criminal for having kids,’ she said. ‘I refused to pay last time, and they almost denied us boarding.’ That is the Ryanair way: bully first, apologise never.
But today, they apologised. Sort of. The airline’s statement is classic corporate weasel-speak: ‘In response to customer feedback, we have simplified our policy.’ No admission of wrongdoing. No refunds for those already stung. The watchdog groups are not satisfied. They want those families compensated. So do I.
The deeper story here is about power. Ryanair built an empire on the principle that passengers have no rights. They fractionalised every service, from boarding passes to toilets, and made a fortune from confusion. But the child seat charge crossed a line. It targeted the most vulnerable: families who cannot simply switch airlines. It was a shakedown, pure and simple.
Today’s reversal shows what happens when consumers fight back. The regulator now has a mandate to scrutinise other hidden fees. I have heard whispers that the baggage charge could be next. Watch this space.
For now, British families can book their Ryanair flights without fear of a hidden premium for keeping their children safe. But do not cheer too loudly. This is one battle in a long war. The airline industry’s addiction to junk fees is deep-seated. And Ryanair still owes those families their money back.
