UK Airline Family Seating Fee Ban: What Parents Need to Know

The short answer

The UK government has announced plans to stop airlines charging parents to sit next to their children, but the rule is not in force yet. The change is expected to come through new legislation, and there is no confirmed date for when the fees will actually disappear. For now, families booking flights should still expect to pay if they want a guaranteed seat together, unless the airline already offers free family seating.

Who this affects

The proposal covers families flying with children under the age of 14 on airlines operating in the UK. It would apply to a parent or an accompanying adult travelling with the child.

The government says the new rules are intended to create greater consistency across all airlines operating in the UK. Airlines UK, which represents UK-registered carriers, said it was surprised by the announcement and added that its members already follow the existing CAA guidance.

If you are travelling with a child under 12, the current CAA guidance already asks airlines to keep you in the same row or no more than one row or aisle away. That is guidance, not a ban on fees, so it does not guarantee a free seat next to your child.

What to do step by step

1. Check the airline's family seating policy before you book. Look for whether the airline offers free seating for children, or whether you must pay to reserve seats together.
2. Decide whether to pay for seat selection. If sitting together matters to you, paying to reserve seats is currently the only way to guarantee it on many airlines.
3. If you do not pay, check in as early as you can. Some airlines allocate seats at check-in and may place children near a parent, but this is not guaranteed.
4. Keep an eye on the Bill's progress. The government says the changes are set to be delivered following Royal Assent of the Civil Aviation Bill. Until then, nothing changes for your booking.
5. If you are charged a fee you think is unfair, contact the airline first. The CAA's current guidance is what airlines are asked to follow.

Costs and timing

According to the Department for Transport, an arrangement to sit together can currently cost a parent and child up to £104 on a return journey. The government also says minor name corrections on flight bookings can currently cost travellers as much as £40.

The Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill completed its stages in the House of Lords in July and received its second reading in the House of Commons on 9 September. It is now due to be scrutinised by a Public Bill Committee, which is expected to report to the House by 22 October.

The Bill itself does not introduce the ban on family seating charges. Instead, it would give the Secretary of State new powers to make regulations about air passenger rights and the duties of airlines and other air transport providers. If the Bill receives Royal Assent, the Department for Transport will consult on the proposed changes, including scrapping charges for parents to sit with children under 14 and fees for correcting minor errors on flight bookings.

That means passengers should not expect the fees to disappear immediately. The BBC reports the changes are expected to be introduced before next year's summer holiday season, but this is not a confirmed date.

Exceptions and what is not yet confirmed

Not yet confirmed:

• The exact date the new rules will come into effect.
• The outcome of the Department for Transport consultation, which will only happen after Royal Assent.
• Whether the rules will apply to all airlines operating in the UK or only UK-registered carriers.

What is already in place:

• Current CAA guidance says airlines should aim to seat children under 12 in the same row as, or no more than one row or aisle away from, their accompanying adult. This is guidance, not a legal requirement.
• Some airlines already offer free family seating. Ryanair changed its family seating policy earlier this year after an investigation into the company charging parents to sit with their children. Under its new policy, parents can still pay to reserve a specific seat, but children are allocated seats next to or near parents free of charge.

Frequently asked questions

Before you travel

This guide covers the UK's proposed rules. If you are flying with children, always check your airline's current seating policy directly, as it can change. For health advice before you travel, speak to a doctor, pharmacist or travel clinic about your own situation, ideally weeks before your trip.