Paid-for allocated seating in aviation - CAP 1709 - Executive summary, background, evidence and recommendations

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Logic

Review document CAP 1709 from the Civil Aviation Authority assesses the practice of airline allocated seating for which a separate fee is charged on top of the ticket price. It examines the legal context and established guidance, compares how different airlines apply reserved-seat charges, and evaluates consumer experience and potential impacts on groups, including accessibility needs and travelling with children. Evidence includes a quantitative survey of recent fliers and qualitative consumer engagement, supplemented by airline information requests, leading to recommendations and next steps.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages92

Reading Time3 h 52 min

AccessFree to download

Executive summary

Background and objectives

Our evidence base

Our assessment

Proposed assessment framework

Our recommendations and next steps

Chapter 2

Reasons for the CAA review

Background

The practice

Scope

Our objectives

Chapter 3

Legal context and guidance

Chapter 4

Our evidence base: methodology and findings

Introduction

Quantitative data: Survey of recent fliers

Qualitative data: Consumer experiences

Airline information request

Chapter 5

Our assessment

Transparency and clarity of price

Provision of information to third parties

Impact on people with accessibility needs

Impact on people travelling with children

Safety considerations

Use of algorithms

Ensuring that policies are implemented in practice

Chapter 6

Assessment framework

Proposed framework

Implementation

Chapter 7

Recommendations, next steps, and timings

Clarity and transparency of pricing

Impacts on those with accessibility needs

Travelling with children and safety aspects

Working with others

Appendix A

Survey of recent flyers

Group Flights

Appendix B

CAA Consumer Engagement Survey

Introduction

Background

Sentiment analysis

Paid-for allocated seating in aviation: an update CAP 1709 Published by the Civil Aviation Authority, 2018 Civil Aviation Authority Aviation House Gatwick Airport South West Sussex RH6 0YR You can copy and use this text but please ensure you always use the most up to date version and use it in context so as not to be misleading, and credit the CAA. First published October 2018 Enquiries regarding the content of this publication should be addressed to: [Harriet.Gamper@caa.co.uk](Harriet.Gamper@caa.co.uk) The latest version of this document is available in [electronic format at:](electronic format at: www.caa.co.uk)[ ](electronic format at: www.caa.co.uk)[www.caa.co.uk](electronic format at: www.caa.co.uk) Contents Contents 3 Executive summary 5 Background and objectives 5 Our evidence base 5 Our assessment 6 Proposed assessment framework 9 Our recommendations and next steps 11 Chapter 2 13 Reasons for the CAA review 13 Background 13 The practice 13 Scope 14 Our objectives 15 Chapter 3 16 Legal context and guidance 16 Chapter 4 19 Our evidence base: methodology and findings 19 Introduction 19 Quantitative data: Survey of recent fliers 19 Qualitative data: Consumer experiences 22 Airline information request 24 Chapter 5 32 Our assessment 32 Introduction 32 Transparency and clarity of price 34 Provision of information to third parties 37 Impact on people with accessibility needs, including hidden disabilities 39 Impact on people travelling with children 42 Safety considerations 44 Use of algorithms 46 Ensuring that policies are implemented in practice 47 Chapter 6 48 Assessment framework 48 Proposed framework 48 Implementation 49 Chapter 7 50 Recommendations, next steps, and timings 50 Assessment framework 50 Clarity and transparency of pricing 51 Impacts on those with accessibility needs 51 Travelling with children and safety aspects 51 Working with others 52 Appendix A 53 Survey of recent flyers 53 Group Flights 53 Appendix B 79 CAA Consumer Engagement Survey 79 Introduction 79 Background 79 Sentiment analysis 85 Executive summary | Background and objectives | | --- | | 1.1 Following research and contacts from consumers, the CAA decided to review the practice of allocated seating by airlines. We wanted to find out more about how seats are allocated, if charging a separate add-on fee for reserved seating on top of the ticket price was harming the collective interests of consumers, whether the practice was being applied in a fair and consistent manner, and whether it was having detrimental effects. We considered:
􀂃 the legal context, along with established guidance and good practice;
􀂃 how different airlines approach the practice of allocated seating; and
􀂃 evidence of how consumers experience the extent and nature of allocated seating charges.
1.2 Our objectives for the review were to understand the practice and its implications for consumers in detail, to consider whether consumers (or particular groups of consumers) were being harmed by the practice, and if so to set out our next steps.
Our evidence base | 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 In order to fully inform our consideration of the practice, we gathered evidence from both consumers and airlines. We commissioned a survey of recent fliers: a representative survey of 14,716 GB adults, of which over 4,000 people who had flown as part of a group in the last year. This was used to gather robust quantitative data on how frequently groups are split up, consumer awareness of the practice, and how much people spend to sit together. We found that the majority of people (87%) were aware airlines might not automatically allocate seats together (where possible) . Around half of respondents (47%) thought that airlines would do their best to sit people in a group together in any case. However, our research found that , in reality, the chances of sitting to

FAQs

What prompted the CAA to review allocated seating practices by airlines?

Following research and contacts from consumers, the CAA decided to review how airlines allocate seats and whether charging a separate add-on fee for reserved seating harms consumers’ collective interests. The review also considered fairness, consistency, and potential detrimental effects.

What evidence did the CAA use to evaluate the practice?

The CAA gathered evidence from consumers and airlines, including a commissioned survey of recent fliers and a voluntary consumer engagement survey via its consultation hub. It also sent an information request to the top UK and non-UK airlines based on passenger numbers and received responses from all ten.

How did the CAA assess impacts on specific passenger groups?

The assessment considered transparency of price information, effects on people with accessibility needs (including hidden disabilities), and impacts on travellers with children. It also examined safety considerations and how algorithms and implementation practices affect these outcomes.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Logic