Air travel gets a flyer-first push: 60% free seats, families to sit together under new rules

March 18, 2026

New Delhi: In a move aimed at improving passenger comfort and transparency, new air travel guidelines are set to prioritise flyers by ensuring better seat allocation and family convenience during journeys.

Mandatory Free Seat Allocation for Passengers

Under the revised rules, airlines will be required to offer up to 60 per cent of seats free of cost at the time of booking. This step is expected to reduce the burden on passengers who are often charged additional fees for seat selection.

The initiative is designed to make air travel more affordable and passenger-friendly, especially for those who prefer not to pay extra for choosing their seats.

Families to Be Seated Together

A key highlight of the new guidelines is the provision to ensure that families, particularly those travelling with children, are seated together. Airlines will need to make arrangements so that minors are not seated separately from their guardians.

This move comes in response to frequent complaints from passengers about families being split across different rows unless they paid additional charges.

Focus on Passenger Convenience and Transparency

The new rules are part of a broader effort to enhance customer experience in the aviation sector. Authorities aim to bring more transparency in pricing practices and ensure that passengers are not subjected to hidden or mandatory add-on costs.

By prioritising flyer comfort and fairness, the guidelines are expected to bring significant relief to regular travellers and improve overall satisfaction with airline services.