Airline unfairly charged passengers for premium seats when free were available – elderly couple file complaint & win compensation; what ruling means for you

Are airlines misleading you on the availability of free seats, especially if two people want to book adjacent seats? When booking an air ticket, be careful when you pay an extra amount for premium seats – free seats of your choice may be available. In one such case, a Navi Mumbai couple, Dr. and Mrs. Nandy, were misled by a private airline into paying ₹7,200 for seat reservations on a Mumbai–New York flight, even though free seats were available. The won the case and the Maharashtra State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission upheld a lower court order that found the airline guilty of unfair trade practice and deficiency in service.

Airline charging for premium seats: What led to the complaint