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Burnham bans airlines from charging parents to sit next to their children on flights

From the Newshound archive · first published 2 October 2026 · last updated 3 October 2026.

Families on a flight face extra seat-selection fees that Andy Burnham's Civil Aviation Bill would ban, along with name-correction charges on bookings.
Families on a flight face extra seat-selection fees that Andy Burnham's Civil Aviation Bill would ban, along with name-correction charges on bookings.

Parents travelling with children will no longer be hit with fees reaching £104 on a return trip simply to sit beside them, under government proposals unveiled on Friday. The Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill is currently before Parliament and is expected to become law ahead of next summer's holidays. Airlines will also lose the ability to levy charges of up to £40 when passengers need to fix minor name mistakes on their reservations.

Under the proposed rules, children under 14 must be seated next to a parent or accompanying adult free of charge.

Burnham described the existing charges as 'a rip-off, plain and simple', positioning the crackdown within his 'everyday fixes' agenda.

Rory Boland of Which? Travel said airlines 'are putting profit ahead of passenger peace of mind' by separating families.

MoreDaily MailAirlines face crackdown on charging parents to sit with their childrenThe IndependentAirlines to be banned from charging families ‘rip-off’ flight feesDaily RecordGovernment to scrap 'unfair' airline charge which will save Scots families hundreds of poundsThe HeraldMajor airline rule change for all parents set to be rolled out in the UK
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