Ryanair is facing scrutiny from Britain's competition regulator over charges that can apply when parents want to guarantee seats beside their children on flights.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened an investigation into the airline's family seating policy, examining whether aspects of the arrangement could breach consumer protection laws.
At the centre of the probe is a charge that can be incurred when adults reserve seats to ensure they are seated with children travelling on the same booking. The watchdog will assess whether the policy and the way it is presented to customers comply with consumer law requirements.
The CMA stressed that the investigation is in its early stages and that no findings have yet been made regarding whether Ryanair has broken any rules.
Consumer protection officials say they are looking at concerns that families may feel compelled to pay additional charges in order to sit together during a flight. The regulator will also examine how those costs are communicated during the booking process.
Hayley Fletcher, Senior Director of Consumer Protection at the CMA, said many families save for months to afford holidays and that unexpected fees can significantly increase the overall cost of a trip.
She said the investigation would focus on Ryanair's approach to family seating arrangements and whether consumers are being given sufficient information about any related charges.
The regulator also noted that, based on its understanding of the market, Ryanair is the only major airline operating from the UK that applies this particular approach. It said other carriers either allocate seats together free of charge or provide ways for children to sit with a parent or guardian without requiring a paid seat reservation.
Ryanair has strongly rejected the concerns raised by the watchdog and insists its policy complies with all applicable regulations.
In a statement, the airline said children are not charged to sit beside a parent or accompanying adult. According to Ryanair, an adult travelling with children pays for one reserved seat and can then select neighbouring seats for up to four children on the same booking without additional reservation fees for those children.
The carrier argued that the system helps reduce costs for families and said it intends to fully contest the CMA's concerns during the investigation.
The airline described the regulator's allegations as unfounded and said it is confident its family seating policy operates within the law.
The CMA said it has not yet reached any conclusions and will continue gathering information before deciding whether further action is required.
