The UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has launched an investigation to review airlines’ allocated seating policies amid reports that current approaches are confusing passengers.
The review will be based on consumer research conducted by the CAA, which involved more than 4,000 consumers who flew as part of a group comprising two or more people last year.
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The research found that more than half of the respondents were reportedly asked by their airline before booking their flights that they would have to pay more if they want to sit together.
It also found that 10% of the participants were informed about the seating arrangement after booking, while another 10% claimed that they weren’t informed about the additional payment.
According to the study, 46% of the respondents felt negatively towards the airline after they were told that they have to pay more if they want to sit together or in a group.
CAA chief executive Andrew Haines said: “Airline seating practices are clearly causing some confusion for consumers.
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By GlobalData“Airlines are within their rights to charge for allocated seats, but if they do so it must be done in a fair, transparent way. Our research shows that some consumers are paying to sit together when, in fact, they might not need to.
“It also suggests that consumers have a better chance of being sat together for free with some airlines than with others. The research shows that it is the uncertainty around whether their group will be split up by the airline that is driving consumers to pay for an allocated seat.”
According to the CAA, its research has found that UK consumers could be paying between £160m and £390m per annum for allocated seating.
