New Ryanair seating rules for the UK

Ryanair has changed its family seating policy following pressure from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, ending the guaranteed advance seat allocation that families previously received at no extra charge.

Under the airline’s existing policy, an adult travelling with children paid a single discounted reserved seat fee and could then select free reserved seats beside them for up to four children on the same booking. This gave families certainty over where they would sit at the point of booking.

For bookings made from today (25 June), adults travelling with children who do not wish to select or pay for a reserved seat will instead be told their seat allocation only after they have checked in.

Ryanair said families opting for this free random allocation are likely to be seated towards the rear of the cabin, as front rows tend to be reserved and sell out first.

Families who still want to choose their seats at the time of booking, including premium front rows, will be able to do so by paying a seat reservation fee. The airline said the change brings its policy into line with most other European carriers and described the adjustment as revenue-neutral.

Ryanair, which carries more passengers than any other airline in Europe, said its previous family seating arrangement complied fully with all relevant laws and regulations. It maintained that families had valued the certainty of advance seat allocation alongside its low fares.

Chief executive Michael O’Leary criticised the CMA’s intervention, accusing the regulator of failing consumers by overlooking what he called inflated fare reselling by unauthorised online travel agents, overcharging by airport monopolies and shortcomings in air traffic control.

He said the regulator had instead targeted a policy that customers had widely welcomed, and said the airline would make the change reluctantly while arguing that most consumers would not notice any difference.

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