Ryanair is under investigation over charging parents to sit with their kids

Ryanair is under investigation in the UK by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over allegations of charging parents mandatory fees to sit with their children. The CMA is examining whether these seating fees are "unfair" to consumers under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Specifically, the investigation will assess if Ryanair is charging parents for services that the airline is already obligated to provide, such as ensuring child safety and meeting disability requirements. The airline's policy requires passengers to pay extra for allocated seating if they wish to guarantee sitting next to their children, a practice that has drawn scrutiny from consumer protection bodies. The CMA's probe aims to determine if Ryanair's approach constitutes a breach of consumer law by potentially imposing additional, unjustified costs on families. This investigation follows concerns raised by consumer groups and individuals regarding the airline's ancillary revenue practices, particularly those impacting family travel. The outcome of the investigation could lead to Ryanair being required to change its seating fee policy if found to be in violation of consumer protection regulations.