The UK government has announced plans to ban airlines from charging parents additional fees to sit with their children on flights under new consumer protection measures. Under the proposed rules, passengers aged under 14 would be guaranteed seating next to their parents or accompanying adults at no extra cost. The changes also address booking errors, eliminating fees for correcting name mistakes on flight reservations.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham characterized the measure as part of a broader effort to eliminate the accumulation of small charges that affect family holiday planning. According to the Department for Transport, families currently pay up to £104 on return journeys for seating arrangements. The government intends to implement these changes before the start of next year’s summer holidays. The modifications are being pursued as part of broader legislative efforts, with Members of Parliament debating a new civil aviation consumer protection and regulatory reform bill that would grant ministers authority over passenger rights and airline duties.
The move follows action earlier this year by Ryanair, which adjusted its family seating policy after an investigation by the UK Competition and Markets Authority. Previously, the Irish carrier charged parents with children aged two to 11 approximately £8 each way for mandatory family seating. Under the revised policy, parents retain the option to pay for preferred seat selection while their children receive adjacent seating without additional cost.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has simultaneously announced a separate initiative addressing passenger conduct on aircraft. The government is collaborating with airlines and trade unions to establish a system for sharing information about disruptive passengers. Airlines would gain the ability to ban repeat offenders. Government data indicates that airlines recorded over 1,000 serious disruptive passenger incidents in 2025, including an incident described as a mid-air altercation that resulted in flight diversion.
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