Bei Jing Ri Bao Ke Hu Duan·2026-01-19 23:37Core Viewpoint - The investigation by Jiangsu Consumer Protection Committee reveals that the practice of locking seats by airlines is widespread and raises concerns about consumer rights and transparency in the airline industry [3][4]. Group 1: Investigation Findings - The survey included 10 major domestic airlines, all of which confirmed the existence of seat locking practices, with no airline fully opening all economy class seats [4]. - The average seat locking ratio across the surveyed airlines is 38.7%, with some routes showing locking ratios as high as 62.1%, such as Spring Airlines' "Nanjing-Lanzhou" route [4]. - Preferred seating areas, such as front rows and exit rows, are commonly included in the locked categories, with higher fees or points required for unlocking these seats [4]. Group 2: Payment and Redemption Issues - Some airlines require consumers to use miles or membership points to unlock preferred seats, with specific examples showing redemption thresholds of 2000 points for premium seats [5]. - Airlines have introduced additional paid options for purchasing points or miles, further pushing consumers towards paid unlocking methods [6]. Group 3: Transparency and Communication - Airlines provided vague explanations for seat locking, citing reasons like reserving seats for special passengers or maintaining flight balance, which contradicts the high locking ratios observed [7]. - Customer service responses were often unclear, failing to provide satisfactory explanations for the locking practices, which raises concerns about consumer rights [7]. Group 4: Unfair Terms and Conditions - The seat selection agreements of the airlines contain unfair terms, lacking clear communication about locking rules and fees, which may infringe on consumer rights [8]. - Airlines often use ambiguous language in their agreements, avoiding the disclosure of free seat availability and locking practices, which benefits the airlines at the expense of consumer transparency [8].