Airlines will be banned from charging parents to sit next to their children under an EU passenger rights reform agreed on Friday, according to diplomats. The measure, part of broader revisions to air travel protections, stops short of more contentious proposals such as mandatory seat allocations for families, diplomats said.
The reform, finalized during a meeting of EU transport ministers, prohibits airlines from imposing additional fees for parents to secure adjacent seats. A senior EU official confirmed the rule change, citing its aim to “simplify passenger rights and reduce disputes over seating arrangements.” The decision follows months of negotiations among member states, with some nations advocating for stricter rules on family seating and others resisting what they termed “overreach.”
Details of the reform were outlined in a draft text reviewed by Reuters, which noted that the ban applies to all EU-registered carriers and airlines operating within the bloc. The regulation is expected to take effect by 2025, pending final approval by the European Parliament. A spokesperson for the European Commission stated the changes reflect “a balance between passenger needs and operational realities for airlines.”
Industry groups have yet to issue formal responses, but some carriers have previously criticized similar proposals as impractical. In 2022, Ryanair expressed concerns that mandatory family seating could lead to “unintended consequences for flight capacity and pricing.” The new rule does not mandate seat assignments, leaving airlines with flexibility on how to manage seating, provided they do not charge for adjacent seats.
The reform aligns with recent EU efforts to strengthen consumer protections, including expanded compensation for delayed or canceled flights. A 2023 report by the European Ombudsman highlighted frequent complaints about seating policies, with 12% of passengers citing “unfair charges” for family-related arrangements. The updated rules aim to address such grievances while avoiding the more divisive measures that were debated, such as requiring airlines to reserve specific rows for families.
Member states that opposed stricter family seating mandates, including Germany and Poland, emphasized the importance of “market-driven solutions.” A German transport ministry official said the compromise “ensures clarity for passengers without imposing rigid constraints on airlines.” The final text of the reform is scheduled for publication in the EU Official Journal by July 15, with implementation beginning 18 months later.
