Britain Plans to Ban Airlines From Charging You to Sit Next to Your Child, Here’s What Actually Changes and When

The UK government announced on 1 October 2026 that airlines will be banned from charging parents to sit next to their children, with the free-seating rule covering every child under 14. It is a plan, not yet law: the change arrives only after the Civil Aviation Bill receives Royal Assent, so a seat fee you pay this month is still legal.

Is the seat fee banned today?

No. The announcement on GOV.UK, published 1 October 2026, says the changes will be delivered following Royal Assent of the Civil Aviation Bill, and the Department for Transport says it will consult on the detail once the Bill is approved. Reports say the Commons committee stage of the Bill is due to begin on 20 October 2026. Until it passes and the rules are written, an airline that sells family seating is not breaking the law.

The Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said parents should not have to feel the pinch just to sit next to their child on a flight. The Prime Minister called the charge a rip-off, plain and simple. Which? backed the move, saying it is unfair to force parents and children as young as three to pay an extra fee.

What does it cost parents right now?

The government figure is up to £104 for a parent and child on a return journey. The UK Competition and Markets Authority looked at Ryanair earlier in 2026 and found it was the only major operator charging such a fee, typically around £8 each way for families with children aged two to 11. Ryanair changed its policy in June 2026. Other carriers are more generous: British Airways seats children up to 12 free and easyJet seats under-12s close to an adult free, according to press reports.

What do the airlines say?

Airlines UK, the trade body, said it was surprised, because UK airlines already allow minor name corrections free of charge and follow current CAA guidance on seating children under 12 with their accompanying adult. Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary called the announcement typical political spin and said government should tackle Air Passenger Duty and repeated air traffic control failures instead. Expect the consultation to argue over the age line and over what counts as sitting together, such as adjacent seats against the same row.

What should you do on your next booking?

Check the airline’s family seating page before you pay, because several carriers already seat young children with an adult for nothing. If a fee is shown, compare it with the cost of simply checking in as early as the airline allows, since seats are often allocated free at check-in. Keep screenshots of what was offered. If you are flown apart from a child under 12, ask the crew before take-off, as CAA guidance expects airlines to seat them together.

For names, do not rely on the future rule. Today a spelling error can still attract a fee of up to £40 at some airlines, so match the booking to the passport exactly. That matters even more for long-haul trips such as Nepal, where a mismatch can stop you boarding.

Thinking about a first big trip with children? Our 8-day Nepal family package is built around short days and gentle altitude, and you can message us on WhatsApp with your travel dates.

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