diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/flyout.test.tsx b/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/flyout.test.tsx
index fac7862d66d..3d2e4de8bcf 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/flyout.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/flyout.test.tsx
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ describe('EuiFlyout', () => {
   });
 
   describe('flyout routing logic', () => {
-    it('routes to child flyout when session is undefined and there is an active session', () => {
+    it('routes to child flyout when session is "inherit" and there is an active session', () => {
       // First render with just the main flyout to establish a session
       const { rerender, getByTestSubject } = render(
         <EuiFlyoutManager>
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ describe('EuiFlyout', () => {
           <EuiFlyout
             onClose={() => {}}
             data-test-subj="child-flyout"
-            // session is undefined (not explicitly set)
+            session="inherit"
           />
         </EuiFlyoutManager>
       );
@@ -514,7 +514,27 @@ describe('EuiFlyout', () => {
       expect(flyout).not.toHaveAttribute('data-managed-flyout-level');
     });
 
-    it('routes to child flyout when in managed context and there is an active session', () => {
+    it('routes to standard flyout when session undefined and there is an active session', () => {
+      const { getByTestSubject } = render(
+        <EuiFlyoutManager>
+          {/* Create an active session */}
+          <EuiFlyout
+            onClose={() => {}}
+            session="start"
+            flyoutMenuProps={{ title: 'Main Flyout' }}
+            data-test-subj="main-flyout"
+          />
+          {/* This flyout opted out of session management by default */}
+          <EuiFlyout onClose={() => {}} data-test-subj="standard-flyout" />
+        </EuiFlyoutManager>
+      );
+
+      // Should render as standard flyout (EuiFlyoutComponent)
+      const flyout = getByTestSubject('standard-flyout');
+      expect(flyout).not.toHaveAttribute('data-managed-flyout-level');
+    });
+
+    it('routes to child flyout when session is "inherit" in a managed context and there is an active session', () => {
       // First render with just the main flyout to establish a session
       const { rerender, getByTestSubject } = render(
         <EuiFlyoutManager>
@@ -539,7 +559,7 @@ describe('EuiFlyout', () => {
           <EuiFlyout
             onClose={() => {}}
             data-test-subj="child-flyout"
-            session={undefined} // Not explicitly set, should inherit
+            session="inherit"
           />
         </EuiFlyoutManager>
       );
@@ -562,5 +582,35 @@ describe('EuiFlyout', () => {
       const flyout = getByTestSubject('flyout');
       expect(flyout).not.toHaveAttribute('data-managed-flyout-level');
     });
+
+    it('routes to standard flyout when session="inherit" but there is no active session', () => {
+      const { getByTestSubject } = render(
+        <EuiFlyout
+          onClose={() => {}}
+          data-test-subj="flyout"
+          session="inherit" // Explicitly set to inherit, but no session to inherit from
+        />
+      );
+
+      // Should gracefully degrade to standard flyout (EuiFlyoutComponent) when no session exists
+      const flyout = getByTestSubject('flyout');
+      expect(flyout).not.toHaveAttribute('data-managed-flyout-level');
+    });
+
+    it('routes to standard flyout when session="inherit" within Manager but no active session', () => {
+      const { getByTestSubject } = render(
+        <EuiFlyoutManager>
+          <EuiFlyout
+            onClose={() => {}}
+            data-test-subj="flyout"
+            session="inherit" // Manager context exists but no main flyout has been created
+          />
+        </EuiFlyoutManager>
+      );
+
+      // Should gracefully degrade to standard flyout when Manager exists but no session is active
+      const flyout = getByTestSubject('flyout');
+      expect(flyout).not.toHaveAttribute('data-managed-flyout-level');
+    });
   });
 });
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/flyout.tsx b/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/flyout.tsx
index 23a44f1e213..52e48554311 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/flyout.tsx
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/flyout.tsx
@@ -38,8 +38,8 @@ export type EuiFlyoutProps<T extends ElementType = 'div' | 'nav'> = Omit<
   /**
    * Controls the way the session is managed for this flyout.
    * - `start`: Creates a new flyout session. Use this for the main flyout.
-   * - `inherit`: (default) Inherits an existing session if one is active, otherwise functions as a standard flyout.
-   * - `never`: Opts out of session management and always functions as a standard flyout.
+   * - `inherit`: Inherits an existing session if one is active, otherwise functions as a standard flyout.
+   * - `never`: (default) Disregards session management and always functions as a standard flyout.
    *
    * Check out [EuiFlyout session management](https://eui.elastic.co/docs/components/containers/flyout/session-management)
    * documentation to learn more.
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ export const EuiFlyout = forwardRef<
     as,
     onClose,
     onActive,
-    session = SESSION_INHERIT,
+    session = SESSION_NEVER,
     ...rest
   } = usePropsWithComponentDefaults('EuiFlyout', props);
   const hasActiveSession = useRef(useHasActiveSession());
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/manager/const.ts b/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/manager/const.ts
index af6341a2afe..b2044b611ec 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/manager/const.ts
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/manager/const.ts
@@ -8,9 +8,6 @@
 
 /**
  * Allowed values for `session` prop to control the way the session is managed for a flyout.
- * - `session="start"`: Creates a new flyout session. Use this for the main flyout.
- * - `session="inherit"`: (default) Inherits an existing session if one is active, otherwise functions as a standard flyout.
- * - `session="never"`: Opts out of session management and always functions as a standard flyout.
  */
 export const SESSION_START = 'start';
 export const SESSION_INHERIT = 'inherit';
diff --git a/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/manager/flyout_sessions.stories.tsx b/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/manager/flyout_sessions.stories.tsx
index 5ea91759a1d..71eb9e78cdc 100644
--- a/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/manager/flyout_sessions.stories.tsx
+++ b/packages/eui/src/components/flyout/manager/flyout_sessions.stories.tsx
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ const FlyoutSession: React.FC<FlyoutSessionProps> = React.memo((props) => {
                   },
                   {
                     title: 'session',
-                    description: 'start',
+                    description: <EuiCode>start</EuiCode>,
                   },
                 ]}
               />
@@ -187,42 +187,42 @@ const FlyoutSession: React.FC<FlyoutSessionProps> = React.memo((props) => {
               )}
             </EuiText>
           </EuiFlyoutBody>
-          {childSize && isChildFlyoutVisible && (
-            <EuiFlyout
-              id={`childFlyout-${title}`}
-              flyoutMenuProps={{ title: `${title} - Child` }}
-              aria-labelledby="childFlyoutTitle"
-              size={childSize}
-              maxWidth={childMaxWidth}
-              onActive={childFlyoutOnActive}
-              onClose={childFlyoutOnClose}
-              hasChildBackground={hasChildBackground}
-            >
-              <EuiFlyoutBody>
-                <EuiText>
-                  <p>This is the content of the child flyout of {title}.</p>
-                  <EuiSpacer size="s" />
-                  <EuiDescriptionList
-                    type="column"
-                    listItems={[
-                      {
-                        title: 'Child flyout size',
-                        description: childSize ?? 'N/A',
-                      },
-                      {
-                        title: 'Child flyout maxWidth',
-                        description: childMaxWidth ?? 'N/A',
-                      },
-                      {
-                        title: 'session',
-                        description: 'inherit',
-                      },
-                    ]}
-                  />
-                </EuiText>
-              </EuiFlyoutBody>
-            </EuiFlyout>
-          )}
+        </EuiFlyout>
+      )}
+      {childSize && isChildFlyoutVisible && (
+        <EuiFlyout
+          id={`childFlyout-${title}`}
+          session="inherit"
+          flyoutMenuProps={{ title: `${title} - Child` }}
+          size={childSize}
+          maxWidth={childMaxWidth}
+          onActive={childFlyoutOnActive}
+          onClose={childFlyoutOnClose}
+          hasChildBackground={hasChildBackground}
+        >
+          <EuiFlyoutBody>
+            <EuiText>
+              <p>This is the content of the child flyout of {title}.</p>
+              <EuiSpacer size="s" />
+              <EuiDescriptionList
+                type="column"
+                listItems={[
+                  {
+                    title: 'Child flyout size',
+                    description: childSize ?? 'N/A',
+                  },
+                  {
+                    title: 'Child flyout maxWidth',
+                    description: childMaxWidth ?? 'N/A',
+                  },
+                  {
+                    title: 'session',
+                    description: <EuiCode>inherit</EuiCode>,
+                  },
+                ]}
+              />
+            </EuiText>
+          </EuiFlyoutBody>
         </EuiFlyout>
       )}
     </>
@@ -252,6 +252,7 @@ const NonSessionFlyout: React.FC<{
           Open non-session flyout
         </EuiButton>
       </EuiText>
+      {/* Using default EuiFlyout session behavior of 'never' */}
       {isFlyoutVisible && (
         <EuiFlyout
           id="nonSessionFlyout"
@@ -261,7 +262,6 @@ const NonSessionFlyout: React.FC<{
           ownFocus={false}
           pushAnimation={true}
           onClose={flyoutOnClose}
-          session="never"
           side="left"
         >
           <EuiFlyoutHeader>
@@ -272,9 +272,9 @@ const NonSessionFlyout: React.FC<{
           <EuiFlyoutBody>
             <EuiText>
               <p>
-                This is the content of a non-session flyout. We assure it will
-                never become a managed flyout by setting{' '}
-                <EuiCode>{'session={never}'}</EuiCode>.
+                This is the content of a non-session flyout. It is assured to
+                not be a managed flyout using the{' '}
+                <EuiCode>{'session={never}'}</EuiCode> behavior.
               </p>
               <EuiSpacer size="s" />
               <EuiDescriptionList
@@ -282,7 +282,14 @@ const NonSessionFlyout: React.FC<{
                 listItems={[
                   { title: 'Flyout type', description: flyoutType },
                   { title: 'Size', description: 'm' },
-                  { title: 'session', description: 'never' },
+                  {
+                    title: 'session',
+                    description: (
+                      <>
+                        <EuiCode>never</EuiCode> (using default)
+                      </>
+                    ),
+                  },
                 ]}
               />
             </EuiText>
@@ -467,6 +474,7 @@ const ExternalRootChildFlyout: React.FC<{ parentId: string }> = ({
       {isOpen && (
         <EuiFlyout
           id={`child-flyout-${parentId}`}
+          session="inherit"
           size="s"
           onClose={handleClose}
           ownFocus={false}
diff --git a/packages/website/docs/components/containers/flyout/session-management.mdx b/packages/website/docs/components/containers/flyout/session-management.mdx
index 622e33b3caf..f0269ac6eac 100644
--- a/packages/website/docs/components/containers/flyout/session-management.mdx
+++ b/packages/website/docs/components/containers/flyout/session-management.mdx
@@ -39,14 +39,10 @@ export default () => {
         <EuiFlyout
           session="start"
           size="s"
-          aria-label="Flyout A - main"
-          flyoutMenuProps={{
-            title: 'Welcome to the flyout session management journey!',
-          }}
           onClose={() => setIsOpenFlyoutA(false)}
         >
           <EuiFlyoutBody>
-            <EuiText>This flyout is rendered with the <EuiCode>{'session="start"'}</EuiCode> prop set which creates a new flyout session and marks this flyout as main.</EuiText>
+            <EuiText>This is <strong>Flyout A</strong>. This flyout is rendered with the <EuiCode>{'session="start"'}</EuiCode> prop set which created a new flyout session and marks this flyout as main.</EuiText>
             <EuiSpacer />
             <EuiFormRow label="What's your name?" fullWidth>
               <EuiFieldText value={name} onChange={(e) => setName(e.target.value)} />
@@ -68,9 +64,9 @@ export default () => {
         >
           <EuiFlyoutBody>
             <EuiText>
-              This flyout is also rendered with the <EuiCode>{'session="start"'}</EuiCode> prop added which creates a <strong>second flyout session</strong> and marks this flyout as main in that session.
+              This is <strong>Flyout B</strong>. This flyout is also rendered with the <EuiCode>{'session="start"'}</EuiCode> prop added which creates a <strong>second flyout session</strong> and marks this flyout as main in that session.
               <br /><br />
-              The first flyout still exists but is currently hidden since this one took precedence. You can jump back to it by clicking the <i>Back</i> button above if you'd like.
+              <strong>Flyout A</strong> exists but is currently hidden since this one took precedence. You can jump back to it by clicking the <i>Back</i> button above if you'd like.
             </EuiText>
             <EuiSpacer />
             <EuiButton onClick={() => setIsOpenFlyoutBChild((val) => !val)}>
@@ -78,7 +74,12 @@ export default () => {
             </EuiButton>
           </EuiFlyoutBody>
           {isOpenFlyoutBChild && (
-            <EuiFlyout size="s" aria-label="Flyout B - child" onClose={() => setIsOpenFlyoutBChild(false)}>
+            <EuiFlyout
+              session="inherit"
+              size="s"
+              aria-label="Flyout B - child"
+              onClose={() => setIsOpenFlyoutBChild(false)}
+            >
               <EuiFlyoutBody>
                 <EuiText>
                   This is a <strong>child flyout</strong> of Flyout B. It belongs to the same session as Flyout B because it's rendered inside of it and doesn't have the <EuiCode>session</EuiCode> prop set.
@@ -113,8 +114,7 @@ about compatibility issues.
 Each time you set `session="start"`, you create a new flyout session and mark
 the rendered flyout as [main](#main-flyouts).
 To create a [child flyout](#child-flyouts) - a flyout that belongs to the same
-session as the main flyout - you can set `session="inherit"` or omit the `session` prop entirely,
-as "inherit" is the default behavior.
+session as the main flyout - set `session="inherit"`.
 All bindings and configuration will be handled automatically.
 
 ### Session title
@@ -134,8 +134,8 @@ field of the `flyoutMenuProps` to set the title of the flyout.
   <EuiFlyoutBody>
     I'm the main flyout
   </EuiFlyoutBody>
-  {/* Render a new child flyout - notice the lack of the `session` prop */}
   <EuiFlyout
+    session="inherit"
     flyoutMenuProps={{
       title: 'My child flyout'
     }}
@@ -145,8 +145,9 @@ field of the `flyoutMenuProps` to set the title of the flyout.
 </EuiFlyout>
 ```
 
-To prevent a flyout from being a part of the session management system, you
-can set `session="never"` which will render it as a regular unmanaged flyout.
+To prevent a flyout from being a part of the session management system, you can
+set `session="never"`, or you can omit the `session` prop as `never` is the
+default. This will will render it as a regular unmanaged flyout.
 
 ```tsx
 <>
@@ -186,9 +187,10 @@ of an alert.
 
 ### Child flyouts
 
-Child flyouts are directly related to a main flyout in their session.
-They're created by rendering a `EuiFlyout` **without the session prop** inside
-a [main flyout](#main-flyouts) - a flyout with `session="start"` prop set.
+Child flyouts are directly related to a main flyout in their session. They're
+created by rendering a `EuiFlyout` with the `session="inherit"` prop set while
+there is an active [main flyout](#main-flyouts) - a flyout with
+`session="start"` prop set.
 
 They're meant to display secondary level information like the alert visualization.