In a major relief for air travellers, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has directed airlines to ensure that at least 60 per cent of seats on every flight are offered without any seat selection charges. The move comes after growing complaints from passengers about hidden costs and additional fees imposed by airlines.
Passengers had frequently taken to social media questioning why they were being charged extra for selecting seats, accusing airlines of exploiting customers through add-on charges.
Under the new passenger-friendly norms issued through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, airlines will now have to keep a majority of seats free of seat-selection fees.
Currently, airlines charge different prices depending on seat location. Window and aisle seats, as well as those with extra legroom, usually carry higher charges. Only a limited number of seats — often middle seats towards the back — are offered without additional payment.
In another important directive, the aviation regulator has instructed airlines to ensure that passengers travelling on the same PNR are seated together, preferably in adjacent seats. The rule aims to address long-standing complaints from families and group travellers who are often separated during seat allocation.
Such situations frequently lead to passengers requesting fellow travellers to exchange seats, sometimes resulting in uncomfortable or heated exchanges before take-off.
The government’s latest guidelines are expected to bring greater transparency in airline pricing and improve passenger convenience.
