Ryanair has announced a new family seating policy aimed at making air travel easier for parents and children. The airline, which flies from Birmingham Airport (BHX), will no longer charge parents extra to sit beside their children during flights.
While infants still do not require their own seats, parents might still face fees to bring their babies onboard. A recent analysis by The Guardian revealed that many airlines charge a variety of fees—up to nine different ones—for traveling with infants.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, expressed frustration over the complexity of these fees. “Trying to work out the final cost has become incredibly complicated and frustrating,” he said. Boland also criticized the practice of charging more for lap infants than for adults, calling it unfair and lacking any sensible justification.
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Ryanair’s updated policy guarantees that after check-in, adults traveling with children will be assigned seats next to their kids at no extra cost, though these seats will typically be located toward the rear of the aircraft. The airline describes this change as a “minor policy tweak,” noting that premium seats in the front rows are usually reserved and sell out quickly.
This move sets Ryanair apart from some competitors like Wizz Air, which still charges a €32 (£28) fee per flight for infants occupying a parent’s lap, regardless of the adult ticket price. Wizz Air defends this practice as standard across the industry.
Overall, Ryanair’s policy change is a positive step towards simplifying family travel and reducing unnecessary charges for parents flying with young children.