Airline Announces New Rule Allowing Women To Choose Gender Of Passengers Sitting Next To Them

Female passengers on a major airline will soon have the option to choose the gender of the person they’ll be sitting next to.

This idea reportedly came about after the airline conducted a survey, asking female passengers what would make their travel experience more comfortable.

This change follows the FBI's revelation that it investigated 96 cases of in-flight sexual assault last year.

However, these new measures have sparked mixed reactions online.

So, how will this new feature work?

IndiGo, India’s largest low-cost airline, recently announced that it will be introducing an option for female travelers to check the gender of their seat partner in advance.

This allows them to choose where they feel most comfortable sitting during a flight.

This innovative change is expected to begin in August 2024 on all IndiGo flights. The airline operates over 2,000 domestic and international flights daily.

With this new feature, women will be able to view their flight’s seating plan during online check-in.

Seats occupied by other female passengers will be marked in pink to help them decide where to sit.

However, male passengers will not be shown the gender of their seat partners and will continue to choose their seats based on availability.

Women on IndiGo flights can choose what passenger to sit next to based on their gender. Getty Stock Photo

In a statement from IndiGo reported by CNN, the airline shared: 

"IndiGo is proud to announce the introduction of a new feature that aims to make the travel experience more comfortable for our female passengers.

“This has been introduced basis market research, and is currently in pilot mode aligning with our #GirlPower ethos.

“We are committed to providing an unparalleled travel experience for all our passengers, and this new feature is just one of the many steps we are taking towards achieving that goal."

Has IndiGo's new policy attracted controversy?

The airline’s new feature is the first of its kind, and it’s being met with mixed reactions online.

One user on X writes: "IndiGo Airlines is trialing a feature where women can specifically choose seats next to other women when they book a flight.

"It’s a good option for women, but I wonder how the airline will manage the inevitable men who say they’re women?"

The new policy aims to protect women. Getty Stock Photo

Another user called for a "boycott," describing the new measure as "discriminatory and disrespectful."

Others are reacting more positively, with one Reddit user sharing: "It’s great that they are offering us choices."

This new measure from IndiGo will hopefully provide women with more safety and lead to positive changes in addressing the larger issue of harassment on planes.