New UK Rules Ban Airlines from Charging Families to Sit Together
New rules from the UK Department for Transport took effect on 2 October: airlines operating in the UK may no longer charge for seat selection to seat children under 14 next to an accompanying adult. Some carriers had previously charged families up to £104 for a return journey for adjacent seats.
The rules also make correcting spelling mistakes in passenger names on tickets free of charge; some airlines had charged up to £40 for such corrections. The department said the fees placed an unfair burden on families travelling with children, and that the changes aim to make air travel pricing fairer and more transparent.
The reform comes amid rising concern over disruptive passengers: official figures recorded more than 1,000 serious incidents in 2025. The government is working with airlines and unions on whether information about disruptive passengers can be shared.
Consumer groups welcomed the rules as a real saving for families, while airlines said they would comply. The Civil Aviation Authority will oversee enforcement.
(Source: Euronews Travel, reporting the Department for Transport)
Source: Euronews Travel, reporting the Department for Transport
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 空客A220客机经济舱座椅，VynedJ 摄，CC BY 4.0（Wikimedia Commons）
