Families flying from the UK are set to receive new protections against charges for sitting together, under changes announced by the government on 1 October.
From 2 October 2026, the UK government says airlines will be required to seat children under 14 with a parent or accompanying adult without charging an additional fee. The government said a parent and child can currently face up to £104 for seats on a return journey. UK Department for Transport
The measure is part of wider changes to passenger protections linked to the Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill. The legislation is intended to modernise aviation regulation and strengthen consumer protections, while giving ministers powers to set passenger rights and duties for airlines and airports.
The government also announced that passengers will have greater flexibility to correct simple name errors on flight bookings without paying some of the fees currently charged for minor mistakes. It said some such charges can reach £40.
The family-seating change follows scrutiny of airline practices. In June, the Competition and Markets Authority opened an investigation into Ryanair over charges for mandatory family seats. The CMA said Ryanair’s terms required at least one parent to sit with children aged two to 11 and that parents were charged around £8 per flight for the required seat.
Parliament has also considered amendments concerning family seating during the bill’s passage. One proposed amendment sought to prevent airlines from seating children under 16 away from an accompanying adult, but that amendment was not moved.
The government says the reforms will be delivered following Royal Assent of the Civil Aviation Bill, with the industry involved in implementation. The bill is being considered by the House of Commons after completing its stages in the House of Lords.
Separate measures announced by the government would create a system for airlines and trade unions to share information about persistently disruptive passengers. Government figures cited in the announcement recorded more than 1,000 serious disruptive passenger incidents in 2025.
The changes are part of the UK government’s broader consumer-protection programme, but their practical effect for travellers will depend on the final legislation and the regulations made under it.
