Breaking · Flights & Access

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

The UK says airlines must seat under-14s with a parent free, but it needs the Civil Aviation Bill first. What you can do on your next flight until…

By Laxman Rawal · Oct 2, 2026

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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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