In a move to enhance family travel experiences and address growing concerns, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has introduced new guidelines requiring airlines to allocate seats for children under the age of 12 alongside at least one parent or guardian during flights.

This regulation comes in response to incidents where young children were not seated with their accompanying adults, particularly when traveling in larger groups. The DGCA emphasized the importance of ensuring children's safety and comfort during air travel by maintaining proximity to their caregivers.

The practice of separating young travelers from their accompanying adults due to unpaid seat selection fees has been a point of contention among passengers, leading to frustrations and dissatisfaction. The new DGCA regulation aims to tackle this issue by ensuring that children traveling with their families in larger groups are seated together with at least one parent or guardian, thereby eliminating the need for additional payments solely for seat allocation.

According to the DGCA's directive issued on Tuesday, airlines must ensure that children aged 12 and below are assigned seats with a parent or guardian listed under the same Passenger Name Record (PNR), with records kept to verify compliance with this requirement.

Additionally, the Air Transport Circular (ATC)-01 of 2024 permits scheduled airlines to charge supplementary fees for various services such as zero baggage allowance, preferential seating, meal options, snacks, beverages, and transporting musical instruments. Passengers are given the choice to opt for these services at their discretion.

This guideline follows concerns raised by Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh on November 10 last year regarding airlines charging separate fees for seat selection during web check-in, labeling this practice as misleading and potentially constituting an unfair trade practice under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

In response to these concerns, Aviation Secretary Vumlunmang Vualnam clarified on November 30 that airlines are permitted to charge for "preferential seats" during web check-in as per existing regulations.

The DGCA's latest mandate represents a positive step towards enhancing customer satisfaction and ensuring a more comfortable and secure travel experience for families, particularly those traveling with young children. By prioritizing family seating arrangements, the aviation industry aims to create a more accommodating and family-friendly environment on flights.