The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched proceedings against Irish airline Ryanair. At the center is a mandatory fee of around £8 per flight that parents must pay so that their children aged two to eleven can sit next to them. The CMA is examining whether this practice constitutes an unfair contract term under consumer law.
Ryanair rejected the allegations, calling the investigation “bogus.” The company said it does not charge a fee for children to sit next to their parents – but rather a booking fee for seat reservation. The mandatory payment applies to both outbound and return flights and ranges between £4 and £12 per leg, depending on the route.
According to the CMA, Ryanair is the only major airline operating from the UK that charges such a fee. The rule also affects parents of children with disabilities. The authority now aims to determine whether the clause violates the prohibition of unfair contract terms. A decision is pending.
Source: www.theguardian.com
