Change 1: 60% Seats Must Be Free

Starting April 20, 2026, airlines must:

• Offer at least 60% of seats on every flight free of charge
• These seats can be selected without paying any extra fee

Earlier, only about 20% seats were free, meaning most passengers had to pay for preferred seats.

Change 2: Relief from Seat Selection Charges

This move directly targets the growing issue of extra charges for seat selection, which had become a major complaint among flyers.

• Airlines often charged ₹200 to ₹1,500 for seat selection
• Now, a majority of seats must be accessible without additional cost

The aim is to make ticket pricing more transparent and fair.

Change 3: Families Must Be Seated Together

DGCA has also directed airlines to:

• Seat passengers on the same booking (PNR) together
• Preferably provide adjacent seats in the same row

This addresses a common issue where families had to pay extra just to sit together.

Change 4: More Transparency in Charges

Airlines are now required to:

• Clearly display all optional charges (seat, baggage, etc.)
• Ensure passengers understand what they are paying for

This is part of a broader push to reduce hidden fees in air travel.

Change 5: Airlines Not Happy

Airlines have raised concerns about this rule:

• Seat selection fees are a key revenue source
• They warn this could lead to higher ticket prices to offset losses

So while seat selection may become cheaper, base fares could rise slightly.

What This Means for You

• You'll likely not need to pay extra for most seats
• Families and groups can sit together without additional cost
• But ticket prices may become slightly higher overall

Bigger Picture: End of Hidden Airline Fees?

This move signals a clear shift toward:

• Passenger-first policies
• Reducing "unbundled" charges
• Making air travel more transparent and predictable

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