Move to stop charges for parents to sit by children on flights

The UK government plans to prohibit airlines from charging parents for sitting next to their children on flights, according to new legislation currently under review in Parliament. The Civil Aviation Bill, if approved by MPs, will prompt the Department for Transport to consult on eliminating fees for being seated with children aged under 14 or correcting minor errors on flight bookings.

While acknowledging that most UK airlines already offer safeguards against hidden costs, the government asserts that its proposed reforms would ensure consistency across all airlines operating in the country. The Airlines UK trade body expressed surprise at the announcement, stating that UK airlines currently allow minor name corrections free of charge and comply with the regulator's existing guidance on seating children under 12 with their accompanying adult.

Currently, a parent and child can be charged up to £104 for the right to sit together on a return journey. Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the proposed rule changes as part of a crackdown on "little charges that add up" when families plan holiday trips, emphasizing that charging parents for sitting with their children is a "rip-off" and that correcting a simple spelling mistake on a booking form should not be considered right.

The department claims that minor mistakes or administrative tweaks, such as correcting a name on a booking form, can cost passengers up to £40. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander noted that parents should not be burdened with additional expenses simply to sit next to their child on a flight or for amending a minor booking error.

Rory Boland, editor of consumer magazine Which? Travel, called the practice "unfair" and criticized airlines that prioritize profit over passenger comfort. He cited Ryanair's investigation into charging parents to sit with children, noting that he saved £4,000. The government also plans to introduce a new system for sharing information on disruptive passengers, created with the help of airlines and trade unions.

In 2025, over 1,000 serious disruptive passenger incidents were logged by airlines, including a mid-air brawl that led to a flight being diverted. The changes, including a new system for handling disruptive passengers, are expected to be implemented before the start of next year's summer holidays.