The Centre has raised concerns over the airlines along with online travel aggregators engaging in unfair trade practices which include labeling every seat of flights as ‘paid’ despite claiming to offer ‘free mandatory web check-in’. The Union consumer affairs ministry also pointed out the complaints regarding denying boarding to passengers despite having confirmed tickets as well as delaying refund.
Consumer affairs secretary Rohit Kumar Singh noted that airlines have been structuring their website interfaces in order to undermine consumer autonomy to opt features suited best for them, and manipulate their decision-making, the Times of India reported. Singh also said that such tactic is called ‘dark pattern’.
