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The UK government plans to consult on ending charges for parents to sit beside children under 14 on flights, if Parliament approves new powers.
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The UK government wants to stop airlines charging parents to sit next to children under 14. If Parliament approves the Civil Aviation Bill, the Department for Transport plans to consult on removing those fees, as well as charges for correcting minor errors in flight bookings. The proposals do not change the rules immediately. [1]
The department says arranging seats together can currently cost a parent and child up to £104 on a return journey, while a minor booking change can cost up to £40. Airlines UK, which represents carriers, says UK airlines already make minor name corrections free of charge and follow current guidance on seating children under 12 with an accompanying adult. The proposed seating measure would cover children under 14. [1]
The changes would follow Royal Assent for the bill. The BBC reports that ministers are aiming to bring them in before the summer 2027 holidays. [1]
The package also proposes a system, developed with airlines and trade unions, for sharing information about persistently disruptive passengers. The government says airlines logged more than 1,000 serious incidents in 2025. [1]
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