旅客期待有更多“选座自由”，大规模“锁座”或成过去式

Core Viewpoint - The new draft regulations by the China Air Transport Association aim to address the issue of "locked seats" in economy class on domestic flights, mandating that at least 70% of seats must be available for free selection, which is expected to alleviate passenger frustrations [1][2]. Group 1: Regulations and Changes - The draft regulations prohibit cash seat selection for domestic flights but allow the use of points or miles for seat reservations [2]. - The minimum percentage of free selectable seats is set at 70% for domestic flights and 65% for international and regional flights [2]. - A survey indicated that the "locked seat" phenomenon previously reached a high of 62.1%, meaning less than 40% of seats were available for free selection [2]. Group 2: Consumer Rights and Industry Impact - Legal experts argue that the excessive locking of premium seats by airlines infringes on passengers' rights, including the right to choose and fair trading, potentially violating consumer protection laws [2]. - The optimization of seat reservation rules is seen as a necessary measure to curb airlines' "covert revenue increase" practices and to establish industry-wide standards [2]. - The final outcome of the regulations is still pending, and further input from passengers and experts is encouraged to refine the seat selection rules [2].