Irish MEP calls on EU to ban airlines charging 'sky-high' fees for parents to sit with their children

Regina Doherty wants the EU to end the practice of airlines charging parents extra to sit with their children on flights.

An Irish MEP is calling for urgent action at European level to end "sky-high" fees for family seating on flights.

Regina Doherty wants the EU to end the practice of airlines charging parents extra to sit with their children on flights and is demanding legislative change to guarantee no child is forced to sit alone mid-flight because of "unfair" seat fees.

She said the issue related to child safeguarding, adding families going abroad this summer should not be penalised for wanting to sit together.

"It's unacceptable that parents must pay extra to ensure their children sit beside them.

"For those with additional needs, being apart from a parent can be traumatic. All children should have the right to sit with families without extra costs," the Fine Gael MEP said.

While some airlines, like Ryanair, offer free seating for children under 12 once the adult pays for an allocated seat, no EU-wide rule mandates this.

Ms Doherty — who sits on the European Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection  Committee, which is known for defending consumer rights across the EU — is pushing for legislative change to ensure consistent rights across all EU carriers.

"Voluntary policies aren't enough. We need clear laws so parents aren't forced to pay premiums for their child's comfort and safety," she said.

This proposal comes as part of a wider push across Europe to make air travel more transparent and family-friendly.

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Last year, the White House proposed additional seating fees for families should be banned in the US.

The plans put forward by the US Transportation Department would require airlines to seat parents with children under the age of 13 on flights without an extra charge if adjacent seats are available when the trip is booked.

At the time US transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said seating adults with their younger children "is common sense and also seems like something that should be standard practice".

"As someone who has personally experienced flying with toddlers," Mr Buttigieg said he knew first-hand that families traveling with little ones do not need added difficulties.