Competition and Markets Authority has opened an investigation into Ryanair after it charged parents roughly £8 per flight to sit with children aged two to eleven, despite advertising free seats for kids under 12. The probe questions whether the fee breaches consumer law.

Ryanair’s terms require one parent to sit beside any child between two and eleven, but the seat must be paid for separately. The airline claims this policy saves families money on the UK’s lowest fare carrier, yet the CMA notes it is the sole major UK airline imposing such a charge.

The regulator is also examining possible “drip pricing” tactics, where lower initial prices mask mandatory fees introduced during booking. With new powers, the CMA can impose fines of up to 10% of a company’s global turnover and compensate affected customers.

Ryanair dismisses the inquiry as a political stunt, citing the government’s failure to abolish Air Passenger Duty. The investigation highlights how hidden fees can inflate holiday costs for families, a concern the CMA says could trigger enforcement action.