Ryanair 'reluctantly' allows parents to sit with their children for free

Ryanair will “reluctantly” allow parents to sit with their children for free starting Thursday, a move the airline says will be revenue-neutral. The change follows two weeks after Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched a probe into Ryanair’s family seating policy. Previously, adults travelling with children aged 2 to 11 had to pay a “family seat” charge of around £8 each way, allowing up to four children next to one accompanying adult. Ryanair said families can still choose to pay for reserved seats, but otherwise seats will be allocated randomly together after check-in, likely toward the rear of the plane. CEO Michael O’Leary called the CMA’s action misguided and said Ryanair would align with what he described as the industry standard. A CMA spokesperson said it will test whether the new policy complies with the law and called it a potential win for families if it does, while noting the investigation remains ongoing.