Why even paid seats aren’t guaranteed: The lesson one passenger learned on a flight
Published on: April 24, 2026, 11 p.m. | Source: The Indian Express
Web check-in is not mandatory in India, but it is strongly recommended as it helps secure your seat—especially on overbooked flights, where airlines may prioritise passengers who have already checked in. As per Directorate General of Civil Aviation guidelines, airlines can overbook to avoid empty seats, and in some cases may deny boarding even to passengers with confirmed tickets if more people show up than available seats. Experts note that web check-in reduces this risk by confirming your intent to travel. If you are denied boarding despite arriving on time, the airline must first seek volunteers and then offer rebooking or compensation as per DGCA rules, depending on delay duration, with payouts capped at ₹10,000–₹20,000 or a full refund if you opt not to travel.
