UK Airline Child Seating Rules 2026: Are Seat Fees for Under-14s Banned?

Do I have to pay to sit with my child right now?

Pick your airline and your child’s age. The checker shows the airline’s published policy today and whether the announced rule would cover your child once it is in force.

Is the free child-seating rule already in force?

No. The GOV.UK press release was published on 1 October 2026. Its headline summary says that from 2 October 2026 airlines will be required to seat children under 14 with a parent or accompanying adult free of charge. That date is the day after the announcement, not a legal start date.

The body of the same release says the changes are set to be delivered following Royal Assent of the Civil Aviation Bill. When we checked on 3 October, the headline still carried the 2 October wording. We did not find a correction notice, so we are treating the Royal Assent line as the one that governs.

Some press reports describe the government as planning to consult on the detail once the Bill has passed. Treat the final wording, including how the rule handles existing bookings, as open.

What has the government announced?

The government says families can currently face charges of up to £104 on a return journey to sit with a child. That is the top example, not a typical fee.

Which children does the rule cover?

The announcement says children under 14. Airline policies and the CAA’s guidance are built around children under 12, so the new rule would add children aged 12 and 13. Children aged 14 and over are not covered.

• Under 12: already covered by most airlines’ own family-seating promises, in varying forms.
• Aged 12 or 13: would be new.
• Aged 14 or over: not covered by the announcement.

Does it mean the whole family sits together for free?

No. The rule is about seating a child under 14 with a parent or accompanying adult. It does not promise that:

• both parents sit next to the child
• all siblings sit together
• a large group sits in one row
• anyone gets a preferred seat, a window or extra legroom

Detailed rules will come through regulations after the Bill passes. Until then, assume paid seat selection stays paid.

When will airlines stop charging?

There is no confirmed date. The Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill started in the House of Lords in May 2026 and had its Commons second reading on 9 September. Commons committee stage is scheduled from 20 October 2026. After Royal Assent, the Bill gives ministers powers to make the detailed passenger-rights rules through regulations, and it gives the CAA direct enforcement powers.

The government says it wants the changes in place for next summer. Which? says it should be in place before the school summer holidays. Treat both as a target, not a guarantee.

What UK airlines do today

The trade body Airlines UK says its members already follow the regulator’s guidance on seating under-12s with an adult. Ryanair’s chief executive has said there are no fees for children to sit with parents on UK airlines. The CMA has said that, before June, Ryanair was the only major airline operating from the UK with a mandatory family seat charge.

What does the CAA say?

The CAA’s guidance says young children should ideally sit in the same row as the accompanying adult. If that is not possible, they should be no more than one row away. On wide-body aircraft the guidance allows an aisle between them. It is guidance, not a legal requirement, and airlines can legally separate children from parents even though that goes against it.

That gap is the reason for the government’s plan. A legal rule would replace a patchwork of airline promises.

Why is the government doing this now?

Family seating fees have been a long-running complaint. Which? has campaigned on them for years and reported Ryanair to the CMA in 2025. On 11 June 2026 the CMA opened an investigation into whether Ryanair’s mandatory family seat charge, typically about £8 each way, was an unfair contract term. Ryanair changed its policy on 25 June. The CMA has said its investigation remains open and that it will test whether the new policy complies with the law. Its timetable points to an update in December 2026.

Could my family really save £104?

Only at the top end, and only once the rule is in force. Use the calculator to see what seat charges would cost you at your own fee. Enter what you pay or were quoted per adult, per one-way flight.

What about babies and infants?

The announcement is about children under 14. Infants under two have separate airline rules for lap travel and infant seats, and the announcement does not replace them. Check your airline’s infant policy for your booking.

What about name correction fees?

The government says passengers will get more flexibility to correct simple name mistakes for free, citing charges of up to £40. Airlines UK says its members already allow minor name corrections free of charge. A spelling fix is different from swapping in another passenger, so do not read the announcement as making all name changes free. The final definition of a simple error is not set.

What should parents do when booking now?

• Check the airline’s current policy first. Several airlines already seat under-12s with an adult without a paid seat.
• Book everyone on one booking. Airlines are more likely to keep a group together when they share a booking reference.
• Check the age rule. Most airlines use under 12 today. The new rule says under 14.
• Do not assume a paid seat guarantees it. Operational changes can still move seats.
• Keep your receipts. If the final rules cover existing bookings, you will want proof of what you paid.

UK child seating rules: summary

UK airline child seating rules FAQ