Low-cost carrier Ryanair has confirmed a change to its long-standing family seat allocation policy in order to align with European industry standards. This adjustment comes as a direct response to pressure from the continent’s regulatory bodies, particularly the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), despite the airline’s executive management branding the move a step backward for consumers.
New Seat Allocation Scheme
For all bookings made from June 25 onward, Ryanair will implement a system that replicates the model used by most airlines in Europe.
The new operating conditions establish the following:
- Free Allocation After Check-In: Adults traveling with children who choose not to pay for a reserved seat will be assigned their seat locations at no cost once flight check-in is completed.
- Cabin Placement: Families opting for random allocation are highly likely to be seated in the rear of the cabin, as forward rows are typically reserved and sell out first.
- Premium Rows: Families wishing to secure specific seats in the forward rows at the time of booking may do so by paying the corresponding fee, in line with industry practices.
→ Ryanair Consolidates European Leadership: Carries 20.7 Million Passengers in May
Contrast with the Previous Policy
Until now, Ryanair’s model allowed adults traveling with children to pay a reduced rate for their own reserved seat, while selecting adjacent seats for up to four children completely free of charge at the time of booking.
The airline maintains that its legacy policy complied fully with all current laws and regulations, ensuring that children never paid surcharges to sit next to their guardians. According to the company, this regulatory adjustment will not impact Ryanair’s revenue, and passengers will continue to benefit from the lowest fares in the European market.
Sharp Criticism of the CMA’s Management
The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael O’Leary, was deeply critical of the intervention by British and European authorities, arguing that the CMA has systematically failed consumers by ignoring the real issues plagies the industry, such as predatory ticket reselling by unauthorized online travel agencies (OTAs), airport monopolies, and Air Traffic Control (ATC) inefficiencies.
“Instead of promoting competition and lower fares for consumers, the CMA is intent on forcing Ryanair to adopt the less transparent, less consumer-friendly family seating policy applied by most other airlines, simply because it is the industry standard,” O’Leary stated.
The executive assured that the airline would comply with this standard “reluctantly” to avoid wasting time explaining its model to regulators who, in his view, misunderstand the actual needs of passengers.
With this modification, Ryanair unifies its criteria with the rest of the European Union’s operators, yielding to local regulatory demands. While the measure aims to standardize booking and boarding procedures, the airline warns that the decision degrades the customer experience, forcing families to manage their seating at the last minute and reducing the chances of securing adjacent seats in preferred areas of the aircraft without incurring additional costs.
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