• Chinese airlines face criticism for charging passengers to unlock most seats during online check-in.
• On some Air China flights, only a few free seats remain, mostly back-row middle seats, while others cost 35–140 yuan.
• Lawyers say the practice may violate aviation, consumer protection, and pricing laws.
• Despite long-standing complaints, regulators rarely intervene, and paid seat selection has become an industry norm.

Chinese airlines are under fire for increasingly widespread “paid seat selection” practices, where passengers must pay or use points to unlock most seats during online check-in.

Passengers report that on some Air China flights, out of nearly 300 seats, only a handful of back-row middle seats are free, while others cost 35–140 yuan or more. Families often struggle to sit together unless they pay extra.

Legal experts say the practice may violate the Civil Aviation Passenger Service Regulations, Consumer Rights Protection Law, and Price Law, as it restricts passengers’ right to free seat choice after purchasing tickets.

Despite public backlash since 2015, and even a fine against one airline in 2016, regulators have rarely acted. Paid seat selection has since evolved from a convenience tool into an industry-wide profit model.