In Big Relief For Flyers, Centre Says No Selection Fee On 60% Seats

In a big relief for flyers, the government has asked airline operators to ensure that at least 60 per cent of seats on any flight are free. This comes after many passengers flagged hidden costs such as seat selection charges and accused airline operators of exploiting customers. The crackdown on seat charges is part of a set of passenger-focused norms brought in by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation. Currently, seats on an aircraft are priced according to location. Window and aisle seats attract higher charges, so do those with extra legroom. Very few seats on a plane do not attract extra charges, and are mostly in the middle row and at the back. Customers repeatedly ask on social media why they have to pay extra for seat selection and slam operators. The ministry's rap would hopefully address this concern. Through the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the ministry has also told airlines to seat passengers travelling on the same PNR together, preferably in adjacent seats. This, too, is a long-standing concern for families and group travellers. Those in a group want to travel together and request fellow flyers to shift to other seats. Some refuse, leading to heated exchanges before take-off. #DGCA #AviationNews #Airlines #PassengerRights #FlightTravel #IndiaNews #CivilAviation #SeatCharges #TravelUpdate #BreakingNews #AirTravel #DGCAguidelines