Parents with young kids made to pay for seat reservation on Ryanair to avoid 'boarding issues'

Families travelling with young children will have to pay to reserve a seat when they jet off with budget arline Ryanair.

The airline has announced that one parent will have to reserve a seat to avoid staff 'issues' when moving passengers to allow families to sit together.

With the airline's exisiting rules, all passengers can choose to save money by having their seats randomly allocated.

But the Dublin-based airline said this has led to "boarding issues" as crews try to re-seat adults and children who have been separated.

From September 1st, one adult in every booking with children must purchase a reserved seat priced at £4, or €4 for flights commencing in the euro zone.

The children will receive reserved seats free of charge, as will the other parent if they are travelling.

Ryanair's chief marketing officer Kenny Jacobs said the new rull "will allow families to select their preferred seats at the time of booking, check-in for their flights up to 30 days prior to departure and fly safe in the knowledge that they are getting Europe's lowest air fares, while ensuring that they always sit with their children.

"This will also prevent other customers who have chosen to purchase a seat of their own from being displaced on board."