44% of Flight Passengers Pay Extra for Seat Allocation, Survey Finds

In a recent survey conducted by LocalCircles, a staggering 44% of respondents voiced their frustration over being charged additional fees for seat allocation during flight ticket purchases. This survey, which garnered over 41,000 responses from consumers spread across 339 districts in India, sheds light on the growing concern among passengers regarding the extra costs they incur, ranging between Rs 200 and Rs 2,000, to secure seats of their choice. This fee can represent a significant portion of the airfare, amounting to 5-40%.

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The study also highlights a slight improvement over the past year in passengers' ability to obtain a seat without extra charges at the time of booking. However, this issue remains a point of contention, especially for those travelling with family members or in groups. The Ministry of Consumer Affairs and the Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) had previously addressed this matter late last year by questioning airlines about their seat allocation fees and the misleading claims regarding free web check-in.

One of the focal points of the survey was the challenges faced by families, particularly those with young children, when trying to book seats together. The findings suggest that families often end up paying more than the cost of their actual tickets to ensure they are seated together, as most airlines charge an additional Rs 200 to Rs 2,000 for this convenience. Alternatively, families are forced to sit in separate rows unless they pay the extra fee, with some airlines offering only the middle seat without additional charges.

Airlines' Seat Allocation Fees

The survey estimates that nearly 80% of seats on some airlines now come with a seat allocation fee. Moreover, about 65% of flyers who booked a flight in the last 12 months reported having paid an extra fee at least once for reserving their seats. This practice has been particularly problematic for groups or families trying to sit together during their journey.

Among the airlines mentioned in the survey, IndiGo was highlighted as having the most significant number of consumers (66%) who found it impossible to secure seats together without paying additional fees. SpiceJet was also mentioned, with 21% of respondents indicating difficulty in obtaining adjacent seats without extra charges.

This comprehensive survey by LocalCircles brings to light the ongoing issues faced by air travellers in India concerning seat allocation fees. As passengers continue to express their dissatisfaction with these extra charges, it remains to be seen how airlines and regulatory bodies will address these concerns to make air travel more consumer-friendly.