It is not mandatory but for Ryanair it is. For children aged 2 to 11 years, the airline’s own reservation conditions state that parents must sit next to their children when they are under 12 years old. Ryanair claims that this arrangement is free of charge.
The situation, however, is not as straightforward in the United Kingdom.
What’s Happening?
Ryanair mandates that minors under 11 years must travel with a parent in adjacent seats. This requirement must be fulfilled during booking, and supposedly does not incur any additional fees.
Yet, the UK competition authority has raised concerns. They claim that Ryanair charges around nine euros on average for reserving these so-called “family” seats, which contradicts the idea that parents and children should be able to sit together without extra costs.
What Does Ryanair Say?
The airline insists that parents can select seats for free at the time of booking. If they choose not to, seats will be assigned automatically.
In reservations made for children under 11 years, customers have the option to book up to four adjacent seats (allowing for up to three children per parent) without charge.
But There’s More to the Story
UK organizations argue that this promise is not always fulfilled and parents are being charged for these seats. It raises suspicion about the clarity of the information Ryanair provides.
The airline states that seat allocation happens in “specific rows (depending on the aircraft)” and warns that changing seats later will incur additional fees. If there are no seats available in those specified rows, customers must choose between paying for new seats or changing their flight.
The Investigation
The UK is now investigating whether it is justifiable for the airline to charge for seats when traveling with children. This practice might lead to potential fines for what could be deemed an abusive fee under the guise of a “mandatory family seat.”
In its defense, Ryanair claims that although parents may be charged for seat selection, the child’s adjoining seat can be reserved at no extra cost. This is their rationale for not violating local laws.
What About Spain?
European regulations state that adults and children under 12 must travel together, and that a child’s seat should be offered without charge wherever possible. While airlines commonly generate adjacent seat reservations automatically in these cases, they are not legally obligated to do so.
In instances where two adjacent seats are unavailable, customers must reschedule accordingly. Moreover, as seen in the ongoing investigation in the UK, there may still be a possibility of surcharges including the final price.
The Broader Discussion
Ryanair has portrayed the controversy as a government gimmick to show concern for travelers, rather than focusing on reducing airfares. This adds another layer to the ongoing disputes between the airline and various national governments across Europe regarding airport service fees.
In conclusion, this evolving situation highlights significant concerns surrounding passenger rights, transparency in airline policies, and the balance between corporate practices and consumer protection.
Photo: Paul Hanoka and Nejc Soklič