{"id":1307325,"date":"2026-03-18T10:31:55","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T05:01:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/trak.in\/stories\/?p=1307325"},"modified":"2026-03-18T10:32:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T05:02:09","slug":"60-seats-in-every-flight-to-be-free-of-extra-charge-govt-mandates-6-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/trak.in\/stories\/60-seats-in-every-flight-to-be-free-of-extra-charge-govt-mandates-6-rules\/","title":{"rendered":"60% Seats In Every Flight To Be Free Of Extra Charge; Govt Mandates 6 Rules"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>In a major relief for air travelers, the Indian government has directed airlines to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.moneycontrol.com\/news\/india\/60-of-seats-on-any-flight-to-be-allocated-free-of-charge-govt-tells-airlines-13863710.html\"> <strong>offer at least 60% of seats on every flight without any additional seat selection charges<\/strong>.<\/a> This passenger-friendly move aims to curb extra fees and improve the overall flying experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"560\" src=\"https:\/\/trak.in\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-26-at-11.04.14-AM-1-1024x560-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1307336\" srcset=\"https:\/\/trak.in\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-26-at-11.04.14-AM-1-1024x560-1.png 1024w, https:\/\/trak.in\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-26-at-11.04.14-AM-1-1024x560-1-300x164.png 300w, https:\/\/trak.in\/stories\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Screenshot-2025-03-26-at-11.04.14-AM-1-1024x560-1-768x420.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What the New Rule Says<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, airlines must now ensure that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>At least 60% of seats are free of charge<\/strong> (no seat selection fee)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Passengers <strong>should not be forced to pay extra<\/strong> just to choose a seat<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This directive addresses one of the most common complaints among flyers\u2014paying extra for basic seat allocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Families and Groups to Sit Together<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Another key highlight of the rule is focused on convenience for families and group travelers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Passengers on the <strong>same PNR must be seated together<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preferably, they should get <strong>adjacent seats<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This solves a long-standing issue where families were often split unless they paid extra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why the Government Took This Step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>India\u2019s aviation sector has seen rapid growth, with lakhs of passengers flying daily. However, this growth also brought challenges:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Rising complaints about <strong>hidden charges<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High fees for <strong>basic services like seat selection<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lack of transparency across airlines<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The government\u2019s move aims to make air travel <strong>more affordable, transparent, and passenger-friendly<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More Passenger-Friendly Reforms Introduced<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Along with free seat allocation, the government has issued additional guidelines:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Clear display of passenger rights<\/strong> on websites and booking platforms<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Better handling of <strong>delays, cancellations, and denied boarding<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Transparent policies for <strong>baggage, pets, and special items<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Communication of rules in <strong>regional languages<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These steps are designed to create a more standardized and fair aviation experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What This Means for Travelers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For passengers, this is a big win:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>No more paying extra just to sit comfortably<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Families can travel together without hassle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Better clarity on rights and services<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>However, airlines may adjust pricing strategies elsewhere to balance revenue, something travelers should watch out for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The government\u2019s directive to make 60% of seats free marks a significant shift in India\u2019s aviation policy. By reducing hidden costs and prioritizing passenger comfort, this move could redefine the flying experience in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If implemented effectively, it will make air travel not just accessible\u2014but also fair and transparent.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a major relief for air travelers, the Indian government has directed airlines to offer at least 60% of seats on every flight without any additional seat selection charges. This passenger-friendly move aims to curb extra fees and improve the overall flying experience. What the New Rule Says According to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":1307336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[989],"class_list":["post-1307325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business","tag-airlines"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>60% Seats In Every Flight To Be Free Of Extra Charge; Govt Mandates 6 Rules - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile &amp; Startups<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/trak.in\/stories\/60-seats-in-every-flight-to-be-free-of-extra-charge-govt-mandates-6-rules\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"60% Seats In Every Flight To Be Free Of Extra Charge; Govt Mandates 6 Rules - Trak.in - Indian Business of Tech, Mobile &amp; Startups\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In a major relief for air travelers, the Indian government has directed airlines to offer at least 60% of seats on every flight without any additional seat selection charges. 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