Why are you paying extra to sit together on a flight? New rules could save families money

The Government wants to stop airlines charging parents to sit next to their children. Here’s what’s changing, what your rights are now and how to avoid unnecessary seat selection fees. Booking a family holiday can be expensive enough without paying extra just to sit next to your children. But depending on your airline, choosing seats together can add a surprising amount to your final bill.

Now the Government has announced plans to ban airlines from charging parents to sit beside their children under 14. According to the Department for Transport, a parent travelling with one child could currently pay up to £104 extra on a return flight just to sit together.

It’s welcome news for families, but there’s an important catch, the new rules aren’t in force yet.

What’s changing?

Under the proposed rules, airlines would have to seat children under 14 next to a parent or accompanying adult without charging extra. The Government also wants to stop airlines charging you to correct simple mistakes in your booking, such as a minor spelling error in your name. These changes form part of wider reforms to airline passenger rights.

The Government aims to introduce the changes in time for summer 2027, but the legislation still needs to be completed. Until then, existing airline seating policies continue to apply.

Do you have to pay to sit with your children now?

Not necessarily, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) says airlines should aim to seat children under 12 in the same row as their accompanying adult, or no more than one row or aisle away.

However, this is guidance rather than a legal guarantee that you’ll sit directly next to your child, so airlines can still charge you to choose particular seats.

Some airlines already offer free family seating. Ryanair, for example, changed its policy in June 2026 following a Competition and Markets Authority investigation. You can now have children under 12 seated next to an accompanying adult for free without paying for a mandatory family seat.

How to avoid paying unnecessary seat selection fees

Before paying to reserve seats, check what your airline actually offers. You might not need to spend anything extra.

• Check the family seating policy before booking. Some airlines automatically allocate children seats beside or close to an adult.
• Don’t assume you have to pay. Seat selection screens can make paid reservations seem essential, but you may be able to continue without choosing seats.
• Check in as early as possible. Some airlines are more likely to seat your group together when you check in early, although this isn’t guaranteed.
• Keep everyone on the same booking. This helps the airline identify your family as travelling together.
• Contact the airline if you need assistance. Where you or your child has a disability or additional seating needs, ask about free suitable seating arrangements before paying extra.

What if your airline separates you from your child?

Contact the airline as soon as you discover the problem, ideally before you travel. Explain your child’s age, refer to the CAA’s family seating guidance and ask the airline to move you together without charging extra.

If you only discover the problem at the airport, speak to the check-in or gate staff. Don’t wait until you’re on the plane if you can resolve it beforehand.

You should also raise concerns if the airline charges you for seating that its own policy says should be free.

When should you complain?

You have grounds to question a charge when the airline:

• Charges you for family seating that it advertised as free.
• Adds an optional seat selection fee without your clear agreement.
• Fails to provide seats you’ve paid to reserve and refuses an appropriate refund.
• Ignores reasonable seating needs relating to a disability.

Start by complaining directly to the airline. Explain what happened, include your booking reference and provide screenshots or receipts showing any charges. Ask for a refund where you believe you’ve been charged incorrectly.

If the airline doesn’t resolve your complaint, you may be able to escalate it to an approved alternative dispute resolution (ADR) provider after receiving its final response or waiting eight weeks. You can find details through the Civil Aviation Authority.

Don’t pay more than you need to

The proposed ban should make family travel fairer and help remove one of the extra costs that can turn a cheap flight into an expensive one. But you don’t need to wait for the new rules to start checking what you’re being charged.

Before paying for seat reservations, find out whether your airline will seat you with your children for free. And when something goes wrong, don’t be afraid to challenge the charge.

Need help with an airline complaint? Use Resolver to check your rights, raise a complaint with participating airlines and keep your correspondence in one place.

For more practical advice on saving money, protecting your rights and getting problems resolved, sign up to the Resolver Newsletter.

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