坐飞机选座位，怎么从“先选先得”变成了“有偿挑选”

Core Viewpoint - The practice of "paid seat selection" by airlines has become a controversial industry norm, raising legal and ethical concerns regarding consumer rights and fair pricing [1][5][10]. Group 1: Paid Seat Selection Practices - Airlines are increasingly charging for seat selection, with only a small percentage of seats available for free. For example, on a flight with 300 seats, only 14 were free, while the rest required payment ranging from 35 to 140 yuan [3][5]. - The introduction of paid seat selection was initially marketed as a convenience but has evolved into a profit-driven model, undermining the original intent of providing fair access to seating [5][7]. Group 2: Legal and Regulatory Concerns - Legal experts argue that the "locking" of seats for paid selection violates multiple laws, including the Public Aviation Transport Passenger Service Management Regulations, the Consumer Rights Protection Law, and the Pricing Law [5][8]. - Despite past penalties, such as the one imposed on China United Airlines in 2016 for similar practices, enforcement against airlines engaging in paid seat selection has been minimal [7][10]. Group 3: Consumer Impact and Industry Response - The current practices not only infringe on consumer rights but also create a negative perception of airlines, as passengers find themselves unable to sit together or choose preferred seats without additional fees [10]. - There is a call for regulatory bodies to intervene and investigate these practices to protect consumer rights and improve the overall service quality in the aviation industry [10].