UK airlines to be banned from charging parents to sit with children

What are the new airline fee rules?

Airlines operating in the UK will be banned from charging parents extra to sit next to their children under the age of 14, under new government proposals.

The planned legislation will also outlaw fees for making minor corrections to bookings, such as fixing a spelling mistake in a passenger's name. Ministers are aiming to have the new rules active in time for the start of next year's summer holiday season.

The reforms are part of the Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill currently making its way through Parliament. If approved, the law will grant the Department for Transport flexible powers to set passenger rights and enforce the bans, establishing a standard across all airlines operating in the country.

How much do these fees cost families?

At present, airlines can charge families substantial sums just to ensure they are not separated on a flight. According to the Department for Transport, reserving seats to sit together can add up to £104 to the price of a return journey for a parent and child.

Correcting a minor admin error, like a typo in a name on a booking form, can cost travellers up to £40.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the charges as "a rip-off, plain and simple," promising that the changes would stop families being hit by unexpected costs.

"People are fed up with these little charges that add up, so I’m putting a stop to them," Mr Burnham said. He described the move as one of several "everyday fixes" aimed at easing the financial squeeze on households.

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said parents should not have to "feel the pinch" just to sit next to their children. Consumer advocates have also welcomed the move. Rory Boland, the editor of Which? Travel, said separating families on flights puts "profit ahead of passenger peace of mind," calling it unfair to force parents to pay extra to supervise children as young as three.

How have airlines responded?

The aviation industry has expressed surprise at the government's announcement. Industry trade body Airlines UK said its members already allow passengers to correct minor booking mistakes free of charge.

The group also pointed out that carriers already follow the Civil Aviation Authority's guidance, which recommends that children under 12 should be seated with an accompanying adult.

However, family seating policies have previously drawn regulatory scrutiny. The Competition and Markets Authority recently investigated Ryanair over its seating fees. The airline used to charge parents around £8 each way for a mandatory family seat to ensure they sat with children aged between two and 11, though it has since modified its policy.

What else is in the Civil Aviation Bill?

Alongside the crackdown on fees, the government is planning to target rowdy behaviour on flights.

The Department for Transport is working with airlines and trade unions to build a new information-sharing system that will allow carriers to log and share details of disruptive travellers. Under the proposals, airlines would be able to issue collective bans to persistently unruly passengers.

The move follows a rise in mid-air trouble, with government data showing airlines logged more than 1,000 serious incidents involving disruptive passengers in 2025.