Ryanair ends family seating fees, but other child travel costs persist

Key facts

• Ryanair has discontinued its policy of charging parents for "mandatory family seats" to sit with children aged two to 11.
• The change follows an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority.
• Despite Ryanair's policy change, other airlines continue to impose significant extra costs for child travelers.
• Some airlines charge a flat fee for infants on laps that can exceed the cost of an adult ticket.
• Additional fees such as air passenger duty, service charges, and carrier-imposed charges contribute to the final flight cost.

Ryanair has discontinued its policy of charging parents extra fees to ensure they can sit next to their children, a move prompted by an investigation from the Competition and Markets Authority. However, the overall cost of flying with children can still be substantial due to various additional charges imposed by airlines.

For infants under two years old traveling on a parent's lap, some airlines like Wizz Air charge a flat fee of €32 (£28) per flight, regardless of the adult ticket price. This fee can sometimes be higher than the cost of the adult's own ticket. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, in contrast, charge approximately 10% of the adult fare for lap infants.

Children over two years old require their own seat, and on airlines such as Wizz Air, Ryanair, and easyJet, their tickets cost the same as adult fares. British Airways offers reduced fares for children until they turn 12. Beyond the base fare, numerous other fees can apply. For instance, a return flight from London to New York on British Airways incurs 11 extra charges for an adult, nine for an infant, and 10 for a child, with these fees making up a significant portion of the total cost.

These additional charges can include government-imposed air passenger duty, airport service charges, carrier-imposed surcharges, and immigration or entry fees, which vary by destination and airline. The complexity and cumulative nature of these fees can make the final cost of family travel significantly higher than initially advertised.