{"id":126348,"date":"2026-10-02T12:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T11:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/?p=126348"},"modified":"2026-10-02T12:20:21","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T11:20:21","slug":"uk-airlines-face-major-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/en.econostrum.info\/uk\/uk-airlines-face-major-change\/","title":{"rendered":"UK Airlines Face Major Change as Parents Could Stop Paying to Sit With Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Families travelling by air in the UK could see changes to the way airlines charge for seating and booking corrections under government plans. Parents would no longer have to pay an additional fee to sit next to children under 14<\/strong>, while simple name corrections on flight bookings could also become free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parents Could Sit With Children Without Paying Extra<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The proposals are part of a wider reform of air passenger rights currently being considered by Parliament. Under the proposed rules, airlines would have to seat passengers aged under 14<\/strong> next to a parent or accompanying adult without charging a separate seating fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At present, families can face additional costs when they want to ensure that children sit alongside an adult during a flight. According to the Department for Transport<\/strong><\/a>, arranging seats together can currently cost a parent and child as much as \u00a3104 on a return journey.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government plans to introduce the new requirements before the start of the 2027<\/strong> summer holiday period, although the final timing depends on the progress of the legislation and subsequent rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Name Changes Could Also Become Free<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The plans would also address charges for correcting mistakes in passenger names. Under the proposed changes, travellers would no longer have to pay a fee simply to correct a spelling error on a flight booking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government says these charges can add to the cost of family holidays, particularly when several small fees are applied during the booking process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prime minister Andy Burnham<\/strong> said the reforms were intended to tackle additional charges that can increase the overall cost of travelling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

\ud83d\udea8 NEW: Andy Burnham says he will soon force airlines to let kids under 14 sit with their parents for free and allow simple booking changes without charge<\/p>— Politics UK (@PolitlcsUK) October 1, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote>