DGCA proposes rule for free cancellation or date change within 48 hours of booking
New Delhi, Nov 4: Air travellers may soon get relief from hefty cancellation charges, as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation…
New Delhi, Nov 4: Air travellers may soon get relief from hefty cancellation charges, as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed a new rule allowing passengers to cancel or modify their flight bookings without any fee within 48 hours of purchase.
According to the draft Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), the new “48-hour look-in period” will enable passengers to cancel or reschedule tickets free of cost, with only fare differences payable if the new ticket costs more.
However, this facility will not apply to tickets booked for travel within five days (for domestic flights) or 15 days (for international flights).
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The DGCA has also clarified that in case of cancellations, airlines — not travel agents or booking portals — will be responsible for issuing refunds, which must be completed within 21 working days.
For passengers cancelling due to medical emergencies, airlines will have the option to offer either a full refund or a credit shell for future travel.
Additionally, name correction requests made within 24 hours of booking will be processed without any extra charge, provided the ticket was purchased directly from the airline’s website.
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The aviation regulator has sought feedback from stakeholders on the draft rules by November 30, after which the final policy is expected to be announced.
Once implemented, the move is expected to make air travel more convenient, transparent, and consumer-friendly — ending long-standing complaints about high penalties and delayed refunds.
