Ryanair has confirmed a new family seating policy, ceasing the practice of charging parents to sit next to their children on flights, including those departing from Birmingham Airport (BHX). The change means adults will be offered seats adjacent to their children free of charge after check-in, though these seats are likely to be located at the rear of the aircraft.
Policy Details and Impact on Families
Under the updated policy, all children on a booking will be allocated seats alongside their accompanying adults at no extra cost. Ryanair described the move as a “minor policy tweak.” However, the airline noted that families opting for this random allocation may find themselves seated towards the back of the cabin, as front rows tend to be reserved or sold first.
Despite this change, parents are still likely to encounter various fees for travelling with infants. A recent analysis by The Guardian identified nine separate charges that airlines impose for taking a baby on board. Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, commented: “Trying to work out the final cost has become incredibly complicated and frustrating. It’s not until you’re a good bit into the booking journey that the amounts become clear.”
Criticism of Infant Fees
Boland also criticised the disparity in charges for lap infants, stating: “The idea that in-lap infants are charged more than a full adult because of some fixed fee they’ve arrived at, is clearly unfair. There’s absolutely no sensible argument for why a very small child, or baby, will be charged more than an adult. That simply doesn’t make sense. Some airlines will probably be making a handy profit off the amount they’re charging for lap infants.”
Ryanair competes with carriers such as Easyjet, Jet2, and Wizz Air. Wizz Air applies a €32 (£28) fee per flight for an infant to sit on an adult’s lap, regardless of the adult ticket price. In response to criticism, Wizz Air stated: “We don’t agree with that assertion … the small fee we charge for infants who sit on their parents’ laps is similar to that charged by many other airlines and reflects standard practice across the industry.”
Broader Context
The policy shift comes amid ongoing scrutiny of airline pricing practices, particularly regarding families. Consumer advocates have long argued for greater transparency and fairness in fees for young children. While Ryanair’s change addresses one aspect of family travel costs, the overall expense of flying with infants remains a concern for many passengers.
