飞机座位被“上锁”，“花钱选座”合法吗？丨小铭切瓜

Core Viewpoint - The practice of "seat locking" by airlines, which restricts access to desirable seats unless additional fees or points are paid, is deemed illegal and constitutes "coerced consumption" [2]. Group 1: Overview of "Seat Locking" - "Seat locking" refers to the situation where passengers find that preferred seats are often locked and require either offline selection or the use of points or miles to access [1]. - A report from Jiangsu Consumer Protection Committee indicates that the "seat locking" phenomenon is widespread among airlines [1]. Group 2: Legal Implications - The method employed by airlines to lock premium seats under the guise of safety needs is criticized as a commercial strategy rather than a genuine safety concern [2]. - This practice infringes upon consumer rights as outlined in the Consumer Rights Protection Law of the People's Republic of China, particularly the right to choose and the right to fair trading [2]. - Consumers are entitled to file lawsuits based on these violations, and in cases of fraud, they may seek punitive damages of "three times the amount" [2].