DGCA's 60% free seat mandate: what it means for families booking flights in India (2026)
By Saanvi Iyer (Saanvi Iyer writes offbeat destination guides for Indian travellers — places that work in monsoon, shoulder-season picks, and the cities Indian first-time international travellers underrate. Based in Bangalore, perpetually mid-itinerary.) · Published · 10 min read
DGCA issued a March 2026 circular requiring all scheduled airlines to keep at least 60% of seats free for selection at no extra charge. Airlines pushed back legally, and the circular's enforceability was contested — but the regulatory pressure has already nudged IndiGo and Air India to quietly expand their complimentary seat blocks. Here is the practical state of play for families right now.
TL;DR — the short answer
The DGCA issued a circular in early 2026 mandating that at least 60% of seats on any scheduled domestic or international flight operated by Indian carriers must be available for selection free of charge. The intent was to stop airlines from charging families extra just to sit together. Airlines challenged it, and as of mid-2026 the rule's legal status is murky — but the regulatory heat has had a real-world effect. Both IndiGo and Air India have enlarged the pool of seats you can pick for free at booking. If you book early enough and choose from the standard seat map (not bulkhead, extra legroom or emergency exit rows), you should be able to sit with your family at no extra charge on most flights. The catch: on peak-demand flights and near-full cabins, the free seats disappear faster.
What exactly did the DGCA circular say?
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation issued a circular in March 2026 (Civil Aviation Requirement or CAR, filed under the passenger rights framework) instructing all scheduled airlines operating in India — domestic and international routes — to designate a minimum of 60% of cabin seats as freely selectable at the time of booking. The circular explicitly called out the practice of putting all standard seats behind a paywall and leaving only middle seats in the middle of the aircraft as 'free', which is what IndiGo was effectively doing for years.
The circular also referenced the existing DGCA passenger rights notification (issued under Rule 133A of Aircraft Rules, 1937) that already prohibits airlines from separating children under 12 from accompanying adults without offering a free seat-change. The 60% rule was meant to give that older provision some teeth.
Airlines — IndiGo in particular — filed representations arguing that seat selection revenue is a core part of the low-cost carrier model and that the regulator does not have clear statutory authority to set a specific percentage. The matter was still before relevant authorities as of mid-2026. Verify the current enforcement status on the DGCA website (dgca.gov.in) before your travel date.
What changed in practice at IndiGo and Air India?
Whatever the legal outcome, neither airline wanted to be caught on the wrong side of a viral story about a parent separated from a toddler. In practice:
- IndiGo: Expanded the standard (blue/uncoloured) seat pool available for free selection at booking. Window and aisle seats are now more frequently unlocked in the free tier, particularly on off-peak flights. Emergency exit rows, XL seats and the front rows still carry a fee (typically in the range of ₹299–₹1,499 per sector depending on route and demand, but check the booking flow for the exact current charge — this fluctuates). The IndiGo app shows a seat map at selection; free seats appear without a price tag. If you see all seats priced, try selecting them at web check-in (opens 48 hours before departure) where another batch of seats may open for free.
- Air India: Always had a more generous free seat policy — economy fares (except the lowest 'Economy Lite' bucket) generally include one advance seat selection per passenger. Full Service Economy and Business Class fares include seat selection across the cabin. Air India Express (the low-cost arm that absorbed the old AirAsia India routes) has a tighter policy closer to IndiGo's original model. Always check the fare conditions before booking.
- Akasa Air and SpiceJet: Both charge for most advance seat selections except middle seats. Akasa has been more transparent about this in its booking flow.
What does this mean for families — practically?
The key protection that does have clearer regulatory backing, even before the 60% rule, is this: an airline operating a scheduled service in India cannot separate a child under 12 from an accompanying parent or guardian without offering to reseat them together for free. If this happens at check-in or on board, ask the ground staff or cabin crew to rectify it — cite the DGCA passenger charter. In practice, gate agents usually sort this out.
Tactics that actually work for families right now:
- Book early and choose seats at booking. Free seats fill up as the flight fills up. On a flight departing in 6–8 weeks, the free seat selection at booking is usually generous. On a flight in 48 hours, it is largely gone.
- Use web check-in 48 hours out. A second batch of seats — including some preferred ones — often becomes available for free when web check-in opens. Set a reminder.
- Avoid the very front and emergency exit rows. These will continue to be chargeable regardless of any DGCA rule — they come with safety briefing obligations (exit rows) or operational convenience (front rows).
- Book on the same PNR. Families split across two PNRs (common when booking through different accounts or OTAs) may not be automatically seated together. One booking = one PNR = the system knows to keep you together.
You can search and compare fares for your family on FlightGPT — once you have the best fare, go directly to the airline's own site to add seats so you see the live seat map without OTA intermediary quirks.
Does the rule apply to international flights operated by Indian airlines?
The DGCA circular applied to all 'scheduled operations' by Indian carriers, which includes international routes flown by Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and Akasa. So in theory, a Delhi–Dubai IndiGo flight or a Mumbai–Singapore Air India flight should also have at least 60% free seats.
However, Indian carriers operating internationally are also subject to the regulations of the destination country's aviation authority, and commercial fare structures on international routes are partly governed by IATA conventions and bilateral Air Service Agreements. Whether the 60% rule is practically enforced on international sectors is less clear — and foreign carriers (Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa etc.) are entirely outside DGCA's jurisdiction for seat charging purposes, whatever the Indian rule says.
For international family travel on foreign carriers, your only lever is the airline's own family seating policy — some (Air France, SAS, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines) do have explicit policies about not charging families with young children for seats together. Check the airline's passenger policy page or call the reservations line.
What if the airline still charges you to sit together?
If you feel the airline has violated the DGCA's seat selection rules, you have a few options:
- Raise a complaint with DGCA: File on the AirSewa portal (airsewa.gov.in). Document the seat map screenshot at the time of booking showing that no free adjacent seats were available. DGCA reviews complaints and has in the past issued show-cause notices to airlines on passenger rights grounds.
- Complain to the airline first: Most airlines have a designated Nodal Officer for passenger grievances (required under DGCA rules). IndiGo's is listed on their website; Air India's customer relations team is reachable via email and the Air India app.
- Consumer Forum: Matters involving charges imposed in violation of a regulatory requirement can also be taken to the District Consumer Forum — it is a slower route, but airlines tend to settle at the mediation stage.
Realistically, if you are at the airport and the family is separated, the fastest fix is to politely but firmly ask the check-in agent or gate manager. Most will reseat a family with young children without a fee, especially if the flight has any empty seats.
Bottom line
The DGCA's 60% free seat mandate is a step in the right direction, even if its legal journey is still ongoing. In practice, book early, pick seats at booking on the same PNR, use web check-in as a second bite, and know that DGCA's older rule (no separating children under 12) has more settled enforcement. If you are planning a family holiday and searching for the best fares, start on FlightGPT — then check the seat map on the airline site once you have the fare locked. Also useful: our articles on unaccompanied minor rules in India and travelling with a car seat or CARES harness on Indian flights.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DGCA 60% free seat rule currently enforceable?
As of mid-2026 the rule's enforceability is contested — airlines filed representations challenging it and the matter was sub judice. However, DGCA has separately enforced the older rule that children under 12 cannot be separated from accompanying adults without a free seat-change offer. Check dgca.gov.in for the current status before your travel date.
IndiGo is showing all seats as chargeable. What should I do?
Try web check-in, which opens 48 hours before departure — IndiGo often releases a new batch of free seats at that point. Alternatively, book early on a less-full flight where the free seat pool is wider. If you believe the airline is violating the DGCA circular, raise a complaint via AirSewa (airsewa.gov.in).
Does Air India charge for seat selection?
Full-service Air India economy fares (not the cheapest 'Economy Lite' bucket) generally include one advance seat selection free of charge. Air India Express, the budget arm, charges for most preferred seats like Air India's LCC peers. Always check the fare conditions in the booking flow — the label 'Economy Lite' usually means pay-per-seat.
What if my family gets separated at check-in on a full flight?
Ask the check-in agent specifically — cite that your child is under 12 and that DGCA's passenger rights circular prohibits separation from an accompanying adult without a free reseating offer. Most agents handle this routinely. If they refuse, escalate to the supervisor or the airline's Nodal Officer (contact details are on the airline's passenger rights page, mandated by DGCA).
Does the free-seat rule apply to SpiceJet and Akasa Air too?
Yes, the DGCA circular covered all Indian scheduled carriers. Both SpiceJet and Akasa Air have a similar pay-per-seat model to IndiGo's original approach. The practical impact on their seat maps — how many seats are genuinely free — varies by flight and date. Check the seat map at booking and at web check-in 48 hours out.
Do foreign airlines (Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa) have to follow this rule?
No. The DGCA rule only covers Indian carriers. For foreign airlines, seat selection policies vary by airline and fare class. Some — Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France — have family seating policies that waive charges for young children if the family is booked together on the same PNR. Check the airline's specific policy before booking.