UK Airlines to Face New Rules on Free Seating for Children Under 14
UK airlines will face new rules on free seating for children under 14, helping families avoid extra charges when booking flights.
Families flying from the UK could save money under government plans requiring airlines to seat children under 14 alongside a parent or accompanying adult without charging an additional seat selection fee.
The announcement, made on 2 October 2026, is part of a package of measures intended to reduce unnecessary airline charges and ease the cost of family holidays.
According to the government, a parent and child could currently face charges of up to £104 for a return journey simply to guarantee seats together.
The proposed changes aim to make the cost of booking family flights more predictable and remove the pressure on parents to pay extra to sit beside their children.
How will the free seating rules work?
Under the announced plans, airlines will be required to seat children under 14 with a parent or accompanying adult free of charge.
For families travelling with more than one child, avoiding additional seat selection fees could make a difference to the overall cost of a holiday.
At present, some airlines charge passengers to choose particular seats, leaving families to decide whether to pay for advance selection or accept the seats allocated through the standard booking process.
The government says parents should not have to pay extra simply to sit beside their children. The proposed requirement is intended to address that concern and give families greater certainty when arranging their journeys.
Other airline charges could also change
The government has announced additional measures intended to give passengers more flexibility when correcting simple name mistakes on flight bookings.
Under the plans, travellers would be able to correct straightforward errors without facing unnecessary administration charges. The government has cited fees of up to £40 for minor booking changes.
Separately, the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation into Ryanair’s charges for parents reserving seats beside their children in June 2026. That investigation is separate from the government’s wider policy announcement.
When will the new rules take effect?
Families should be aware that the free seating requirement is a planned change, not a rule they can automatically assume applies to every booking today.
The government initially referred to implementation in time for the summer 2027 holiday season. However, it subsequently removed the specific date from its announcement to correct an error.
Passengers booking flights should therefore check their airline’s current seating policy and the latest official government guidance before paying for reserved seats.
If implemented as intended, the change could help families reduce holiday costs and make booking flights with children more straightforward.
