Airlines Will Have to Let Children Under 14 Sit With a Parent for Free
The Government has announced plans to require airlines operating in the UK to seat children under 14 with a parent or accompanying adult without an extra seat-selection charge. The change is intended to make family seating more consistent, but the new requirement is not yet in force and there is no confirmed start date.
Change at a glance
WHAT: Airlines are set to be required to seat children under 14 with a parent or accompanying adult free of charge.
WHEN: No confirmed implementation date. The Government says the change is intended to be delivered following Royal Assent of the Civil Aviation Bill and has referred to the 2027 summer holidays.
WHERE: The Government says the reforms are intended to provide consistency across airlines operating in the UK.
WHO: Families flying with a child under 14, subject to the final rules.
WHAT TO DO NOW: Check the airline’s current seating policy when booking. The announced change is not yet a legal entitlement.
LAST CHECKED: 13th October 2026
What is changing?
On 1st October 2026, the Department for Transport announced plans requiring airlines to seat children under 14 with a parent or accompanying adult without charging an additional fee for the seating needed to keep them together. The Government says the aim is to stop families paying extra simply to sit beside their children.
The announcement refers to charges that can add to the cost of a family trip. The Government says a parent and child could currently be charged up to £104 on a return journey to sit together. That is the figure cited in the announcement, not a fixed charge applied by every airline or to every booking.
When will the rule start?
A specific start date has not been confirmed. The Government’s announcement says the measure is intended to be delivered following Royal Assent of the Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill. It has referred to implementation ahead of the 2027 summer holidays, but this should not be treated as a guaranteed commencement date.
The Government removed a date from its announcement on 2nd October 2026, explaining that the date had been included in error. There is therefore no official basis for giving an exact day on which the new seating requirement will begin.
Is the new requirement already law?
No. The Government has announced its intention, but the new under-14 seating requirement is not yet in force. The Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill is progressing through Parliament. The official Parliament page lists the Bill as being in the House of Commons, with committee stage expected to begin on 20th October 2026.
The final legislation, any regulations made under it and the commencement arrangements will determine how the policy works in practice. Until those steps are completed, families should not assume that the announced free-seating requirement already gives them a legal right to a particular seat.
Who is expected to benefit?
The announcement covers children under 14 travelling with a parent or accompanying adult on flights covered by the new UK arrangements. The final rules should clarify how airlines must apply the requirement to different bookings and seating layouts.
The policy is about allowing a child to sit with a parent or accompanying adult without an extra charge for the seating needed to keep them together. It does not, on the information published so far, establish a right to choose any seat on the aircraft for free, such as a premium seat or one with extra legroom.
What should families do when booking now?
Until the new requirement comes into force, check the airline’s current family seating policy and the terms shown during booking. Do not assume the new arrangement applies to a flight simply because it is booked for 2027; the confirmed start date and final rules will matter.
The Civil Aviation Authority’s current guidance says airlines should aim to seat children under 12 in the same row as their accompanying adult, or no more than one row or aisle away. That is existing guidance and is separate from the Government’s announced plan to cover children under 14.
If you have already paid for seat selection, do not assume you will automatically receive a refund. The Government announcement does not set out refund arrangements for previous bookings or explain how any transition will be handled. Check with your airline if you need information about a particular booking.
Does it apply in Scotland?
The announcement is a UK Government aviation measure intended to give passengers more consistent protections across airlines operating in the UK. It is not presented as a separate Scottish Government scheme. The precise scope will be set out in the final legislation and regulations.
What happens next?
Parliament must continue considering the Civil Aviation Bill, and the Government must confirm the arrangements for implementing the seating policy. The key details to watch are the final legal requirements, the exact start date and how airlines will allocate seats without an extra charge.
For now, use the airline’s current rules when making a booking. This article should be updated when the Government publishes a confirmed implementation date or further detail about how the requirement will work.
Information checked
Department for Transport: Take off for passengers as government scraps extra charges when flying
UK Parliament: Civil Aviation (Consumer Protection and Regulatory Reform) Bill
UK Civil Aviation Authority: Planning your trip
This article provides general consumer information, not legal advice. The policy and its implementation arrangements may change. For a specific flight booking, check the latest information from your airline and the official sources linked above.
