Airlines to be Banned from Charging for Child Seats
New legislation aims to end extra fees for parents sitting with children under 14 and for booking name corrections.
Trust 50Craft 60Hype 40How this was reported ▾
The central claim is attributed to ministers and the prime minister, with a specific document cited.
How well corroborated and evidenced the reporting is. Higher is better.
The article explains why the changes matter and quotes affected parties and responsible bodies.
Context, balance and separation of fact from comment. Higher is better.
The headline is lively but the body of the article provides substantial detail.
How far presentation runs ahead of substance. Lower is better.
1 source assessed · methodology
Airlines will be prevented from levying extra charges on parents who wish to sit with their children on flights, under new government plans. The proposed regulation mandates that airlines must seat passengers aged under 14 next to their parents or a designated accompanying adult without any additional cost.
This measure forms part of the civil aviation (consumer protection and regulatory reform) bill, which is currently progressing through parliament. The bill aims to grant ministers flexible powers to define passenger rights and the obligations of airlines and airports. Prime Minister Andy Burnham stated that these changes are intended to address the cumulative effect of small charges that increase the cost of family holidays.
Airlines to scrap child seating fees and name change charges
New government measures aim to reduce costs for families and improve passenger experience on UK flights.
Addressing 'Little Charges'
Mr Burnham described the practice of charging parents to sit with their children as a "rip-off" and highlighted that fees for simple spelling corrections on booking forms are also unfair. He indicated that the government is committed to tackling these minor irritations that cause inconvenience and financial strain for travellers. The Department for Transport has indicated that securing seating together could previously amount to £104 for a parent and child on a round trip.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, commented that it is inequitable to expect parents and young children to pay extra for shared seating. He suggested that airlines separating families prioritise profit over passenger well-being. The report notes that Ryanair previously adjusted its seating policy following an investigation into its charges for parents travelling with children aged between two and 11. Under their former policy, a fee for a mandatory family seat was approximately £8 each way, according to the UK Competition and Markets Authority.
Victoria line closure: Brixton repairs to shut Tube line
Transport for London will close the Victoria line between Victoria and Brixton stations for urgent infrastructure repairs.
Disruptive Passenger Measures
In parallel, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has announced efforts to curb disruptive behaviour on aircraft. The government, in collaboration with airlines and trade unions, is developing a new system for sharing information on problematic passengers. Official figures from 2025 show that airlines recorded over 1,000 serious incidents involving disruptive passengers, including an airborne altercation that necessitated a flight diversion. The proposed system could enable airlines to ban repeat offenders.
Ministers are reportedly aiming to implement the new seating and booking correction rules before the commencement of next year's summer holiday season.
Questions this report answers
+Will airlines still be able to charge for seat selection?
Yes, airlines will retain the option for passengers to pay to reserve specific seats and have their children sit alongside them. The new rule specifically prohibits charging extra solely for the purpose of a parent sitting next to a child under 14.
+How much could families save with these new rules?
Families could save up to £104 on a return journey, as this was the previous maximum cost for arranging to sit together. Additionally, passengers will no longer face charges for correcting minor errors on their flight bookings.
+When will these new rules come into effect?
It is understood that the government intends to introduce these changes before the start of the next year's summer holidays. The legislation is currently making its way through parliament as part of the civil aviation bill.
WE FILE
No invented reporter. No hidden source trail.
The London Travel Desk assembled this report from the outlets listed below. Language-model drafting is reviewed under human editorial supervision, with scoring notes and corrections kept visible.
More Coverage in World
Victoria line closure: Brixton repairs to shut Tube line
Kingston Council to re-tender e-bike contract
Taxi firm fined £1,600 at Southend Airport drop-off zone
