买机票还要再花钱选座？10家航司被约谈！锁座比例平均超38%

Core Viewpoint - The Jiangsu Provincial Consumer Protection Committee has raised concerns regarding the long-standing issues of seat locking and paid seat selection services among major Chinese airlines, highlighting the need for reform in these practices to protect consumer rights [1][2][3]. Group 1: Issues Identified - The practice of seat locking is widespread among the ten airlines, with the proportion of locked seats in the economy class ranging from 19.9% to 62.1%, averaging 38.7%, primarily affecting preferred seating areas [1][2]. - Airlines are increasingly using a mechanism that effectively charges consumers for seat selection, particularly disadvantaging non-members or infrequent travelers who lack the means to accumulate points for free seat selection [2]. - There is a lack of transparency in the information provided to consumers regarding seat locking rules and associated fees, with airlines often providing vague explanations that do not align with the high rates of seat locking [2]. Group 2: Required Reforms - The Jiangsu Provincial Consumer Protection Committee has mandated airlines to conduct self-assessments and rectify their seat selection rules within 15 working days, specifically addressing the excessive locking of seats and eliminating disguised paid seat selection models [3][4]. - Airlines are required to ensure a reasonable and balanced distribution of free seat options, retaining only necessary seat locks for special passengers or emergency purposes, while prohibiting the inclusion of standard economy seats in the paid category [3]. - The committee has called for a review and modification of unfair contractual terms related to seat locking, ensuring that consumer rights are not limited and that airlines' responsibilities are clearly defined within a transparent framework [4].