The government is set to implement new regulations that will prevent airlines from charging parents additional fees for sitting next to their children during flights.
This forthcoming rule mandates that children under the age of 14 must be seated adjacent to their parents or another adult traveling with them at no extra cost. Additionally, passengers will no longer incur fees for making minor corrections to their flight bookings, such as name changes.
Ministers are aiming to have these changes in place by the onset of next summer’s holiday season. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has emphasized that these modifications are part of a broader initiative to eliminate “small charges that accumulate” while families are planning their vacations.
Members of Parliament are currently discussing a comprehensive set of regulations for travel companies as the civil aviation (consumer protection and regulatory reform) bill progresses through legislative procedures. This proposed legislation would grant ministers the authority to define passenger rights and outline the responsibilities of airlines and airports.
Burnham remarked, “It’s simply unacceptable for airlines to charge parents merely for the privilege of sitting with their children. Moreover, imposing significant fees for simple errors on booking forms is equally unjust.”
He added, “People are tired of these minor charges that can pile up, and I am committed to putting an end to them. Our goal is to alleviate everyday frustrations that waste time and money.”
According to the Department for Transport, the current cost for parents to ensure they are seated with their children can reach as much as £104 for a round-trip ticket.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, highlighted the unfairness of requiring parents to pay extra fees for the ability to sit with their children, some as young as three years old. He criticized airlines for prioritizing profits over the comfort and peace of mind of families.
Earlier this year, Ryanair revised its seating policy for families following scrutiny over practices that charged parents for sitting with their children. The airline had previously mandated that parents traveling with children aged two to eleven pay for a designated family seat. However, children would then be assigned seats next to or near their parents at no additional cost. The fee for the mandatory family seat was typically around £8 each way, as reported by the UK Competition and Markets Authority.
Under the new guidelines, parents will retain the option to pay for a specific seat while ensuring their children sit beside them at no cost.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has also announced measures to address disruptive behavior among passengers on flights. The government, in collaboration with airlines and trade unions, is developing a new system for sharing information about unruly passengers.
Government data indicates that airlines reported over 1,000 serious incidents involving disruptive passengers in 2025, including an incident that led to a mid-air altercation and the diversion of a flight.
With the implementation of this new system, airlines may have the ability to prohibit consistently disruptive passengers from boarding their flights.
