Purchasing a plane ticket is often seen as the gateway to a smooth travel experience, yet the reality of choosing a seat during the check-in process can present unexpected hurdles. Many passengers find themselves facing additional fees for the majority of available seats, sparking frustration among travelers who perceive it as unfair to pay extra after already securing a ticket.
The issue was brought to the attention of the Lok Sabha, raising concerns about the legitimacy of these additional fees during online check-in post-ticket purchase. In response to these queries, the Ministry of Civil Aviation shed light on the rights of passengers who have paid for their tickets and associated fees.
According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, passengers who have purchased tickets are entitled to receive a boarding pass without any additional charge for seat assignment. If a passenger opts not to select a preferred seat, the airline will automatically assign a seat at no cost through the auto-assigned seat mode.
In this process, a few hours before the flight’s departure, the passenger will receive an email containing their boarding pass and details of the auto-assigned seat. To utilize the auto-assigned seat option, passengers can visit the airline’s website or app and select “auto-assigned” as their seat preference.
Defending the practice of charging fees for preferred seat selection, an official pointed out that it is part of the unbundling strategy employed by airlines. While this strategy offers a complimentary seat assignment for those unwilling to pay for a preferred seat, certain services, such as preferred seat assignment, are unbundled and charged separately on an opt-in basis. The official highlighted that this approach helps lower the cost of basic fares.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)’s Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) supports the unbundling of services by airlines, providing customers with the flexibility to pay for the specific services they wish to utilize.
In essence, while the fees for preferred seat selection may seem like an additional expense, they are part of a broader strategy aimed at providing passengers with choices while maintaining the affordability of basic fares.
