NEW DELHI: Airlines will now have to ensure that young children are seated with at least one of their parents or guardians on flights without being required to pay extra for seat selection charge if travelling on the same PNR (booking reference).
On an opt-in basis, passengers can choose to pay for these extra services if they desire to do so.“Such unbundled services are provided on ‘opt-in’ basis by airlines and are not mandatory.
The US, for instance, has been grappling with this issue.US President Joe Biden had on Feb 5, 2023, said on X (former Twitter): “Some airlines charge extra to pick your seat, including for parents who want to sit next to their child on a plane.
No one should have to pay extra to be seated with their kids.
As a result, groups or families travelling together are mostly seated separately on flights if they do not book their seats in advance by paying extra.
NEW DELHI: Airlines will now have to ensure that young children are seated with at least one of their parents or guardians on flights without being required to pay extra for seat selection charge if travelling on the same PNR (booking reference). Following numerous complaints from passengers travelling in groups about being seated separately — especially from their children — if they choose not to pay extra for seat selection, the DGCA on Tuesday issued a directive to airlines on this issue.“Airlines shall ensure that children upto the age of 12 years are allocated seats with at least one of their parents/guardians, who are travelling on the same PNR and a record of the same shall be maintained,” says an amended rule by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).The regulator’s Air Transport Circular (ATC)-01 of 2024 titled “unbundle of services and fees by scheduled airlines” allows airlines to charge extra for services like zero baggage, preferential seating , meals, snacks, beverages, and carriage of musical instruments. On an opt-in basis, passengers can choose to pay for these extra services if they desire to do so.“Such unbundled services are provided on ‘opt-in’ basis by airlines and are not mandatory. There is also a provision for auto seat assignment to passengers who have not selected any seat for web check-in before scheduled departure. In view of the various instances that came to the notice of DGCA wherein children below the age of 12 years were not seated along with their parent/guardian, the existing Air Transport Circular 01 of 2021 has been suitably modified,” a senior official said.The issue of people travelling in groups being seated separately if they do not pay extra for seat selection has been irking travellers across the world and not just in India. The US, for instance, has been grappling with this issue.US President Joe Biden had on Feb 5, 2023, said on X (former Twitter): “Some airlines charge extra to pick your seat, including for parents who want to sit next to their child on a plane. Congress should pass the Junk Fee Protection Act so we can crack down on these fees and give hard-working Americans just a little bit more breathing room.” Then on March 1, 2023, US department of transport secretary tweeted: “Next week,(the department) will publish afamily seating dashboard to show which airlines guarantee families can sit together for free. I appreciate American Airlines becoming the first US airline to commit to putting this guarantee in its customer service plan.” In response, President Biden Tweeted: “I called for airlines to eliminate family seating fees in my State of the Union – and today, American Air announced they're doing just that. No one should have to pay extra to be seated with their kids. Time for more airlines to follow suit.”Airlines globally, including in India, offer pre-seat selection for a charge and those who do not wish to pay this get allocated whatever seats were not pre-booked. As a result, groups or families travelling together are mostly seated separately on flights if they do not book their seats in advance by paying extra.
