The government plans to ensure that parents won’t be charged for sitting next to their children on flights, pending approval of the Civil Aviation Bill. The Department for Transport (DfT) aims to eliminate these charges for minors under 14 and for small booking errors.
While many UK airlines already provide protections against hidden fees, the government wants consistent regulations across all airlines. Airlines UK claims that minor name corrections are already free, and some airlines, like easyJet and Ryanair, refute the existence of extra fees for seating beside children.
Currently, it can cost families around £104 for a return trip to sit together, and booking errors can incur fees of up to £40. Prime Minister Andy Burnham called these proposed changes a step towards addressing the “little charges that add up” for holiday planning.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander expressed that parents shouldn’t face unnecessary costs to sit with their children. However, Ryanair’s CEO criticized the government for making superficial changes, stating that the current system already offers the necessary accommodations. EasyJet also mentioned that the only significant change would raise the age threshold for free seating arrangements from 12 to 14.
Consumer expert Rory Boland highlighted the unfairness of charging families additional fees for sitting together, arguing that airlines prioritize profits over passenger comfort.
