In a rare victory for passengers over budget carriers, Ryanair has reversed its controversial policy of charging families to sit together. The airline, long criticised for nickel-and-diming customers, quietly removed the booking fee for adjacent seats when travelling with children under 12. Sources inside the airline confirm the change follows a barrage of complaints and threats of regulatory action from UK consumer watchdogs.
Documents uncovered by this reporter show Ryanair had been raking in millions annually from the 'priority boarding' add-on, which many families felt forced to purchase to avoid being separated. One mother told me: 'It was extortion. You pay £60 for flights and then another £30 just to sit with your five-year-old.'
What forced the reversal? Pressure from the Civil Aviation Authority and the new consumer duty rules that came into force this year. The CAA had been investigating the practice under 'unfair commercial practices' legislation. A CAA source said: 'We made it clear that charging for family seating was in breach of consumer law. They had no defence.'
The timing is telling. Ryanair was facing a potential class-action lawsuit from affected families, led by the campaign group Fair Fares Now. Their legal team had gathered over 10,000 testimonials and a dossier of internal emails showing executives knowingly exploiting parental anxiety. One email read: 'We make more on seat charges than on the ticket itself for family bookings. Protect this revenue.'
Ryanair's official statement is predictably bullish. 'We have always offered free seat allocation for families where possible,' a spokesperson said. 'This is just an improvement to our booking system.' Don't buy it. The old system forced families into a lottery. Now, they will be automatically seated together without extra cost, but only if they book via the airline's website. Third-party agents still charge.
What does this mean for the industry? Expect other budget carriers to follow suit. EasyJet and Wizz Air have already signalled they are reviewing their policies. But don't pop the champagne just yet. This is a tactical retreat, not a surrender. Ryanair's new 'family seats' still come with restrictions: only available on standard bookings, not basic fares. And the airline is already testing 'dynamic pricing' for seat allocation, a system that could resurrect the charge in disguise.
Consumer advocates are cautious. 'It's a step forward, but the war goes on,' said Sarah Jenkins of Which? 'Legislation is needed to ban these fees permanently.' The government is listening: a consultation on airline transparency is underway, with a bill expected next year.
For now, families booking Ryanair flights can breathe easier. But remember: this is the same airline that once proposed charging for using the loo. They'll find another revenue stream. They always do.
