During air travel, passengers are deliberately being allotted different seats despite booking tickets on the same PNR. This new pattern of airlines is now putting a heavy burden on the pockets of passengers. If you are traveling with your family or partner and want to sit together, you may have to pay a hefty amount for it at the time of online check-in. It is now becoming difficult to get adjacent seats without paying extra.
Airlines are charging up to Rs 1,500 extra for wanting to sit in the same row with family or friends.
Airlines are charging extra Rs 500 to Rs 1,500 from passengers in the name of front row, extra legroom or window and aisle seats. The problem is that if a passenger buys a ticket by paying only the basic fare and thinks that he will choose the seat later, he gets a shock at the time of check-in. At that time it is known that only paid seats are left to sit together. In many cases, people traveling with spouses or children are forced to pay extra per passenger.
Not only in domestic but also in international flights, during check-in, the system’s mathematics is such that one is forced to buy an ‘expensive seat’.
This problem is not limited to domestic flights only, but the same pattern is being seen on international routes also. During online check-in, airlines’ systems often show seats that only have ‘chargeable’ seating options. At the same time, the seats which are free are shown in different corners of the plane. In such a situation, two or more passengers have to either choose an expensive seat to travel together, or have to sit separately the entire way.
Companies have full emphasis on increasing revenue by taking advantage of ‘unclear provisions’ of rules.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued guidelines from time to time regarding seat allocation and additional charges, but there is no strict rule in them regarding mandatory seating of families or passengers with the same PNR. Airlines are taking advantage of these unclear provisions. They decide the pricing and allocation of seats during web check-in in such a way that maximum revenue can be generated from them. When the question arises, it is shrugged off by saying it is the customer’s ‘choice’.
The hope of getting a seat at the airport counter at the last moment often turns out to be useless, the system is separating you by default.
The algorithm or system of airlines by default allocates different seats to passengers in the same PNR. If the passengers themselves do not pay and change their seats, they remain left out. Many passengers go to the airport in the hope that they will be able to get the adjacent seat by requesting at the counter, but are often refused saying “the seats are full”. Passengers who want to sit together have no concrete option other than paying in advance.
To avoid this extra burden on the pocket, passengers will have to adopt these methods while booking tickets.
The best way to avoid this additional recovery is vigilance. If a free or low cost seat is available at the time of booking your ticket, it is wise to select it at the same time. Also, log in immediately as soon as the online check-in starts. In some cases, the option to sit together in the back rows or middle seats may be available at no charge once the check-in window opens. If you delay, only expensive seats are left as an option.
