The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has revised the rules regarding airline ticket refunds. Under the new rules, passengers will have a 48-hour look-in period after booking their ticket. The DGCA stated that within these 48 hours, passengers can cancel or change their tickets without additional charges. However, if the new flight fare is higher, the difference will be payable.
This facility is available under certain conditions: when the domestic flight is at least 7 days away, when the international flight is at least 15 days away, and the ticket is booked directly through the airline’s website. The DGCA clarified that normal cancellation charges will apply after 48 hours of booking. The new rules will take effect on March 26, 2026.
No Charges for Correcting Name Mistakes
According to the new rules, if a passenger purchased a ticket directly from the airline’s website and reports a name mistake within 24 hours, the airline will not charge a fee to correct the same passenger’s name. If the ticket was purchased through a travel agent or portal, the airline will be responsible for the refund, as the agent represents the airline. The airline must complete the refund process within 14 working days.
Refund Deadlines Fixed
Credit card payments must be refunded within 7 days. Cash payments made at the airline office must be refunded immediately. The DGCA stated that in the event of a cancellation or no-show, the airline must refund all government taxes and passenger-related charges, even if the base fare is non-refundable.
Cancellation Charges and Information Required
Airlines must clearly disclose the refund amount for ticket cancellations. The refund policy and its full details must be displayed on the ticket or a separate document. The cancellation charge must be clearly and prominently displayed at the time of booking.
According to regulations, the cancellation charge cannot exceed the base fare and fuel surcharge. Travel agent fees, if specified in advance, are not included. The airline cannot charge any additional fees for refund processing. The option to retain the refund amount as a credit shell is at the passenger’s discretion; it cannot be made the default option.
Special Facility in Medical Emergency
If a passenger or a family member included in the same booking is cancelled due to a medical emergency, the airline may offer a refund or a credit shell option. In other cases, a refund will be granted only after an opinion on fitness for travel is provided by the airline’s aerospace medicine specialist or a DGCA-accredited doctor.
