Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the new draft regulations from the China Air Transport Association regarding the rules for reserving seats on flights, aiming to enhance passenger rights and clarify the rules around seat locking and selection [3][4]. Group 1: Seat Reservation Rules - The draft specifies that at least 70% of economy class seats on domestic flights must be available for free selection, with higher percentages for larger aircraft [4][6]. - For international and regional flights, the minimum percentage for free seat selection is set at 65% of the total economy class seats [6][7]. - Prior investigations revealed that the seat locking ratio among ten airlines ranged from 19.9% to 62.1%, with an average of 38.7% [6][7]. Group 2: Paid Seat Selection - The draft prohibits cash payments for seat selection on domestic flights, allowing only members to use points or miles for certain reserved seats [10][11]. - The regulations aim to balance consumer choice and airline operations, ensuring that a significant number of seats remain available for selection, especially for families and groups [9][10]. Group 3: Release of Reserved Seats - The draft outlines rules for releasing reserved seats at check-in counters, mandating that domestic flight reserved seats be made available for free during check-in hours [10][11]. - For international flights, reserved seats must be released no later than six hours before departure [10].