DGCA's 60% free seat rule and group flights in India: how same-PNR passengers enforce their rights in 2026
By Vihaan Patel (Vihaan Patel covers the intersection of travel and digital payments — Indian OTAs, airline-direct booking flows, UPI vs credit-card surcharges, RBI tokenisation rules and the booking-funnel mechanics that quietly cost (or save) you money.) · Published · 9 min read
DGCA's March 2026 circular mandates that at least 60% of seats on Indian scheduled flights must be available for free selection — and for group passengers booked on the same PNR, this right to sit together without paying extra is enforceable at check-in. Here is exactly what to say to the airline, and what to do if they resist.
TL;DR — the short answer
The DGCA issued a circular in March 2026 requiring all scheduled Indian carriers to keep at least 60% of cabin seats available for free selection at the time of booking. For group passengers on the same PNR — a tour group, a family block, a corporate group — this means the airline must accommodate the group in adjacent or nearby seats from the free-seat pool, without charging extra. The practical enforcement is imperfect: airlines contested the circular legally, and check-in agents do not always know the rule. But if you know what to ask for and who to escalate to, the right is exercisable. This article tells you exactly how.
What does the DGCA circular actually say about groups?
The March 2026 DGCA circular (issued under the Civil Aviation Requirements framework, referencing Rule 133A of Aircraft Rules, 1937) has two relevant provisions for group travellers:
- The 60% mandate: Airlines must designate at least 60% of cabin seats as freely selectable at no extra charge from the time of booking. This applies to all scheduled operations — domestic and international — by Indian carriers including IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air and SpiceJet.
- The same-PNR grouping clause: Passengers travelling on the same PNR must be offered adjacent or grouped seating from the free seat pool without additional charge. The circular explicitly recognised that splitting a group across scattered seats while leaving the adjacent seats behind a pay-wall is an unfair commercial practice.
The 'same PNR' language is important: it is the key phrase to use at check-in. A group of 15 people split across three PNRs loses much of the protection, because each PNR is treated as a separate booking. If you are organising a group, get everyone on one PNR (or as few PNRs as possible, up to the airline's PNR limit — IndiGo caps group PNRs at around 9 names for online booking; beyond that, a group PNR via the group desk handles more).
The rule's legal enforceability was contested by airlines as of mid-2026 — always verify the current status on the DGCA website (dgca.gov.in) before travel.
How do group PNRs work with IndiGo and Air India?
The mechanics differ between carriers, and understanding them saves you a headache at the airport:
- IndiGo: Online booking allows up to 9 passengers per PNR. For groups of 10 or more, IndiGo's Group Booking desk (reachable via their website or by calling the group desk number) creates a single group PNR that can hold the entire party. At check-in, this single PNR is what triggers the same-PNR seating provision. If your group was online-booked as two separate 8-person PNRs, they are not automatically treated as the same group — you would need to proactively tell the check-in agent and ask them to note the linked bookings. IndiGo's system does allow agents to link PNRs when they are on the same flight; it depends on the agent and the availability of adjacent seats.
- Air India: Air India's group desk (for 10+ passengers) creates a consolidated group PNR with more flexibility on seating. Air India's policy on full-service economy fares typically includes free advance seat selection anyway, so the 60% rule adds less incremental value here — you are already entitled to seat selection at no charge on most non-Lite fares. Where Air India Express (the budget arm) is involved, the dynamics are closer to IndiGo's LCC model.
- Akasa Air and SpiceJet: Both have group booking processes requiring direct contact with their group/charter desks. SpiceJet's group desk has been reported as slower to respond given the airline's operational challenges in 2025-2026. Check current contact details on their official sites.
What to do at web check-in (48 hours out)
Web check-in opens 48 hours before departure on IndiGo and Air India. This is your first enforcement window:
- Log in with your group PNR. On IndiGo, all passengers in the group PNR should appear on one screen.
- The seat map at web check-in typically shows a larger pool of free seats than at the original booking — some airlines release additional seats at this stage. For a group of 10, look for a contiguous block in rows that have not been pre-selected.
- If IndiGo is still showing all remaining seats as chargeable and your group has no seats yet, this is the point to call the customer care line or group desk and cite the DGCA circular. Document the seat map (screenshot) before the call in case you need to file a complaint later.
- On Air India, web check-in seat selection for economy fare passengers follows the fare conditions — if free selection was included, it should reflect in the web check-in flow.
Tip from booking experience: for a group of more than 6, the section of the aircraft in rows 20-35 (typically the rear-middle on a narrowbody) tends to have the most free seats available at web check-in. The front cabin rows and bulkhead seats are almost always chargeable regardless of the DGCA rule.
What to say at the airport check-in counter if the group is being split
This is where knowing the rule specifically pays off. If the check-in agent says the only free seats are scattered across the cabin:
- State the PNR: 'We are a group of [X] passengers on PNR [number]. We are on the same PNR.'
- Cite the DGCA rule: 'The March 2026 DGCA circular requires airlines to seat same-PNR passengers together from the free seat pool. We would like our group to be seated together without additional charge.'
- Request the supervisor: Frontline check-in agents often do not know the specifics of the circular. Asking for the check-in supervisor or airport duty manager usually gets a faster resolution — they are more familiar with passenger rights obligations.
- Do not pay under protest if you can avoid it: Paying seat charges under duress complicates any later complaint. If the agent insists and you genuinely cannot resolve it before your boarding window closes, note the agent's name and employee number, then file a complaint via AirSewa (airsewa.gov.in) within 48 hours with the screenshots as evidence.
The goal is resolution at the counter, not a complaint process. Most supervisors will reseat a group to avoid an AirSewa complaint that will land on their record.
Filing a complaint if the airline ignores the rule
If you paid seat charges for a same-PNR group that should have been seated together under the DGCA rule, or if you were separated despite requesting to be seated together, the formal complaint path is:
- AirSewa portal (airsewa.gov.in): DGCA's passenger grievance portal. File within a few days of the incident. Attach: PNR confirmation, seat map screenshot at the time, boarding passes, and a brief account of what happened at check-in. Airlines are required to respond within defined timelines under DGCA's escalation framework.
- Airline Nodal Officer: Every Indian scheduled airline is required to publish a Nodal Officer contact (email and phone) for unresolved passenger grievances. IndiGo's and Air India's are on their respective websites. A written complaint to the Nodal Officer quoting the DGCA circular is typically processed faster than a general customer care query.
- Consumer Forum: For financial losses (seat charges paid for a group that should have been free), District Consumer Forum is an option. It is slower, but airlines tend to settle pre-hearing when the regulatory violation is documented.
Also see: our broader article on the DGCA free seat rule for families in India, which has more detail on the older 'children under 12' provision that has more settled enforcement history.
Bottom line for group organisers
Book your group on a single PNR wherever possible — it is your strongest lever under the DGCA rule. Do your seat selection at booking for the best availability, and use web check-in 48 hours out as a second chance. At the airport, know the specific language: 'same-PNR group', 'DGCA March 2026 circular', 'free seat pool'. Most disputes resolve at the supervisor level without going to AirSewa. For planning your group itinerary and comparing fares across dates, start on FlightGPT — once you have the right flights, go to the airline's group desk or direct website to consolidate everyone onto one PNR. Also relevant: negotiating group airfares with Indian airlines and student group discounts for NCC and NSS groups.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 60% free seat rule apply to all Indian airlines including low-cost carriers?
Yes — the DGCA circular covered all scheduled carriers operating in India, which includes IndiGo, Air India, Air India Express, Akasa Air and SpiceJet. Low-cost carriers were the primary target since they had the most restrictive pay-per-seat models. The rule's enforceability was legally contested by airlines as of mid-2026, but DGCA has separately enforced passenger separation rules under earlier circulars. Check dgca.gov.in for current status.
My group of 12 is on three separate PNRs. Can we still claim the same-PNR protection?
Not automatically — the DGCA provision specifically references same-PNR passengers. However, at the airport check-in counter, you can proactively ask the agent to note that the three PNRs are a linked group travelling together, and request adjacent seating from the free pool. It depends on seat availability and agent discretion. The stronger protection is to consolidate onto one or two PNRs at the time of booking, ideally via the airline's group desk for 10+ passengers.
What is the maximum group size per PNR on IndiGo?
IndiGo's online booking system limits group PNRs to around 9 passengers. For groups of 10 or more, IndiGo's Group Booking desk creates a dedicated group PNR that can handle the full party under a single reference. Contact IndiGo's group desk via their website (IndiGo6E.com under the 'Groups' section) at least 7-14 days before departure to allow time for quotation and confirmation.
Do Air India full-service fares include free seat selection for groups?
Yes — most Air India economy fares above the lowest 'Economy Lite' bucket include one free advance seat selection per passenger. For a group on a standard economy fare, you should be able to select seats at no charge from the time of booking on the Air India website or app. Air India Express (the budget sub-brand) follows a more restrictive model closer to IndiGo's. Always verify which airline sub-brand and fare class you are booking — the Air India and Air India Express booking flows are distinct.
We paid seat charges because we were told no free seats were available. Can we get a refund?
If you paid seat charges for a same-PNR group that should have been seated together under the DGCA rule, file a complaint via AirSewa (airsewa.gov.in) with your PNR confirmation, payment receipt for the seat charges, and a description of what you were told at check-in. DGCA can direct the airline to refund improperly charged fees. The airline's Nodal Officer channel (contact details on the airline website) is sometimes faster for financial resolution.
Does the rule apply on international flights operated by IndiGo or Air India?
The DGCA circular covered all scheduled operations by Indian carriers, including international routes. So a Delhi–Dubai IndiGo flight or Mumbai–Singapore Air India flight should technically comply. However, enforcement on international routes is less clear, and foreign carriers (Emirates, Qatar, Singapore Airlines) are outside DGCA jurisdiction entirely. For international group travel on foreign airlines, the only lever is the airline's own family or group seating policy.