Budget carrier Ryanair has been shamed into reversing its policy of charging parents extra to sit next to their young children. The airline, which had long imposed fees for pre-booked seats in the name of 'dynamic pricing', quietly scrapped the charge on Friday after a public backlash and a regulatory probe by the Italian competition authority. Sources confirm the airline realised it was on the losing end of a PR war and a legal headache.
The move follows similar reversals by Wizz Air and Jet2, leaving British airlines such as easyJet and TUI as the last holdouts. Campaigners are now calling on the UK government to follow the lead of Italy and mandate free family seating. 'It's about basic decency,' said a spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Authority, which has opened a consultation.
'A child should not be treated like a piece of luggage.' The U-turn came after leaked internal documents surfaced showing Ryanair's own customer service staff had flagged hundreds of complaints about families being split up. One email, seen by this reporter, described the policy as 'a money grab that makes us look like villains'.
A Ryanair spokesperson said the change was 'part of our commitment to better customer service', but sources close to the board say it was a direct response to the Italian investigation, which threatened fines of up to 10 million euros. The airline has now updated its booking system to automatically seat children under 12 with an accompanying adult at no extra cost. But the damage to its reputation may linger.
Traveller groups have unearthed evidence that Ryanair made over 50 million euros annually from the now-abandoned fee. The scandal has reignited the debate over so-called 'junk fees' in the aviation industry. Consumer advocate group Which?
has called on Britain's Competition and Markets Authority to launch a sector-wide investigation. 'This is not just about families,' said a Which? spokesperson.
'It's about the principle of transparency. Airlines are hiding charges behind complex algorithms.' The Department for Transport is monitoring the situation but has so far resisted legislating, preferring to rely on voluntary codes of conduct.
But with an election looming, pressure is building. Labour MP Chris Bryant has tabled a private member's bill that would require all airlines operating from UK airports to guarantee free adjacent seating for children under 11. The bill has cross-party support.
'If Ryanair can do it, so can everyone else,' Bryant said. 'It's time to stop treating passengers like cash cows.' The Irish airline's change will apply to all flights from April 1st.
Meanwhile, easyJet and TUI have said they are reviewing their own policies, but stopped short of committing to a change. For the thousands of families who fly each year, the Ryanair U-turn is a small victory in a long fight for fairness. But the battle over hidden airline fees is far from over.
Watch this space.
