Ryanair makes major child seating charge change for families

The budget airline has announced a shake-up affecting new bookings from today, with some families now having to wait until check-in to find out where they will be sitting.

While Ryanair says children will still be seated beside a parent or accompanying adult free of charge, families who do not pay to reserve seats are likely to be allocated places towards the rear of the aircraft.

The move comes after scrutiny of airline seating policies and criticism from consumer group Which?.

What is changing for Ryanair seating policy?

Under the revised policy, families who choose not to pay for seat reservations will receive their seat allocations after checking in.

Previously, Ryanair’s family seating policy provided greater certainty earlier in the booking process.

Parents who want to choose where they sit, including securing seats near the front of the aircraft, can still pay a reservation fee.

Ryanair says children will continue to sit next to an accompanying adult free of charge.

Why has Ryanair changed the rules?

The airline says the move aligns its family seating policy with industry standards used by many European carriers.

However, consumer group Which? claims the changes only came after pressure from regulators.

Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, said: “It was never fair to charge parents to sit next to children as young as three.”

Families may end up at the back of the plane

Ryanair has warned that passengers using the free seating allocation are more likely to be placed in rows towards the rear of the aircraft.

That’s because seats at the front are often reserved by passengers willing to pay extra.

Families wanting specific seats or premium locations will still need to purchase seat reservations.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary criticised regulators and suggested the airline was being forced to abandon what he described as a more consumer-friendly system.

He argued that Ryanair’s family seating policy had been popular with customers and gave families greater certainty than some rival airlines.

But he confirmed the airline would make the changes rather than continue its dispute with regulators.

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What does it mean for holidaymakers?

For most parents, children should still be seated next to them at no additional cost.

However, families who do not pay to choose seats may now have to wait until check-in to find out exactly where they will be sitting.

The changes apply to bookings made from today, June 25, onwards and come just as millions of Britons prepare for summer holidays.

Consumer groups say they will be closely watching how the policy works in practice to ensure families are not separated or pressured into paying extra charges.