Airlines to be made to seat children with parents for free
The government plans to stop airlines charging parents to sit with children under 14, and to let passengers fix simple name errors on bookings for free.
Airlines will have to seat children under 14 with a parent or accompanying adult free of charge, under plans announced by the government on 2 October 2026. It says a parent and child can currently be charged up to £104 on a return journey just to sit together.
Passengers will also be able to correct simple name errors on their bookings for free. The government says these charges are sometimes as much as £40 for a minor mistake or admin change.
The changes are due to be delivered once the Civil Aviation Bill receives Royal Assent, and the government says it is working with the industry on implementation. It has described the move as easing pressure on the cost of living "in time for next year's summer holidays", but no exact start date has been given.
What this means for you
Most UK airlines already offer some protection against these costs, according to the government, but the new rules are meant to make them consistent across every airline operating in the UK. Which? Travel editor Rory Boland welcomed the plans, saying Which? had pressured many airlines into dropping family seating fees over the past ten years.
The government is also working with airlines and trade unions on a system for sharing information about persistently disruptive passengers. It says airlines logged more than 1,000 serious disruptive passenger incidents in 2025.
Ways to save
- Until the law changes, check before you pay. Read your airline's family seating policy before buying seat selection, as you may not need to pay to sit with young children.
- Check in as early as you can if you're travelling as a family and haven't paid for seats, to give the airline the best chance of seating you together.
- Copy names exactly from passports when you book, including middle names if the airline asks for them. Double-check before you pay.
- Compare the total price. Add bags, seats and other extras to each quote, as a cheap headline fare can end up costing more than a rival's. Travel sites such as lastminute.com and Booking.com make it easier to compare flights side by side.
Sources: Department for Transport and Prime Minister's Office
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