CCPA penalises SpiceJet over dark patterns: what flight bookers

What the CCPA announced on 17 July

India's Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) announced at 6:46 pm IST on 17 July 2026 that it had imposed a ₹1 lakh penalty on SpiceJet Limited for dark patterns on its flight-booking platform. The underlying order is dated 14 July 2026.

The authority identified automatic enrolment into SpiceClub, pre-selected consent for promotional communication, deceptive interface design and confusing, negatively worded consent language. It directed SpiceJet to permanently discontinue default-consent practices and provide an explicit, informed and affirmative choice.

This is a regulator's enforcement action, not a general allegation by CouponPe. It affects people booking directly through SpiceJet's digital platform, especially anyone moving quickly through membership, marketing-consent or add-on screens. CouponPe did not repeat a booking or test whether every interface has changed since the order.

Travellers comparing fares can separately check current MakeMyTrip coupons and travel offers and Cleartrip coupons and booking offers. An offer does not replace the need to inspect the final airline or travel-platform checkout.

The practices named in the order

The order says consent must be explicit, informed and freely given. Rule 4(9) of the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020 requires consent for a purchase to be expressed through an explicit and affirmative action. A pre-ticked box or default setting is therefore not the same as a passenger actively choosing it.

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Check membership, marketing permission and optional services separately before payment.

What passengers should do now

The CCPA direction does not cancel a valid flight ticket or say that all SpiceJet add-ons are prohibited. Airlines can offer optional seats, meals, baggage or priority services. The issue is whether the passenger clearly chooses them and sees the consequence before paying.

Before confirming a direct booking:

1. Review whether any club or loyalty membership has been added.
2. Check every marketing-consent box rather than accepting the default state.
3. Open the fare and add-on breakdown and compare it with the first price shown.
4. Save the final screen and confirmation when a disputed choice could affect cost or communication.
5. Recheck the booking after payment to confirm the selected fare, baggage and add-ons.

CouponPe's guide to spotting dark patterns online explains basket sneaking, drip pricing and interface interference beyond this case. The Air India Basic versus IndiGo Lite fare comparison shows how to compare the complete fare instead of only the opening price.

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The safest comparison uses the complete payable amount and the choices you actively made.

If a choice or charge was not yours

First preserve evidence: the page before payment, selected boxes, itemised total, booking reference and confirmation. Hide card, identity and contact details before sharing screenshots.

Use SpiceJet's official support or grievance route for a direct booking. If a travel platform handled the transaction, contact that platform too and identify where the disputed choice appeared. Keep reference numbers and replies.

An unresolved consumer grievance can be filed through the government's National Consumer Helpline. The CCPA order is broader enforcement; it does not automatically decide an individual refund claim. If payment was debited but the booking failed, follow the separate failed-order and UPI reversal checklist.

The practical change

The 17 July announcement gives Indian flight bookers a concrete consent rule: membership, marketing and other booking choices should require an affirmative action, not a pre-selected default or confusing refusal. Passengers should still inspect the live checkout, because CouponPe has not verified when each affected screen was changed. The useful habit is simple: confirm what you chose, what it costs and what permission you are giving before pressing pay.