UK Government to Ban Airline Family Seating Fees
Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced plans to ban airlines from charging parents extra to sit with children under 14 and eliminate name-correction fees.
The United Kingdom government is moving to ban airlines from charging parents extra fees to sit with children under the age of 14. Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister, stated the initiative is part of a broader crackdown on small charges that accumulate for families. These changes are included in the civil aviation (consumer protection and regulatory reform) bill currently under parliamentary debate.
In addition to the seating ban, the proposed legislation would eliminate fees for correcting simple name mistakes on flight bookings. Ministers intend to have these rules in place before the summer holidays of next year.
Simultaneously, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander announced a new information-sharing system involving the government, airlines, and trade unions. This system aims to identify and potentially ban persistently disruptive passengers, a response to more than 1,000 serious incidents recorded in 2025.
