Bad weather, crew strikes, and any other unforeseen events lead to flight delays and cancellations. However, if you’re tired of waiting hours after a delayed flight and paying excessive cancellation fees, the passenger rights charter issued by the Civil Aviation Authority is here to save you. India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation released a charter reaffirming the passenger rights to fly within the country. After consulting with airlines and passenger associations the government has changed some of the rules. The charter list covers many contingencies including flight delays, cancellations, and lost luggage situations.
Cases In Which You Can Get A Free Meal
If you’ve checked in at the airport on time and you are expecting your flight to be delayed by more than 2.5 hours block time (block time is the total time flight takes to arrive after being pushed back out of the departure gate), then you’re entitled to get free meals. The domestic passengers are entitled to get a free meal even if their flight is delayed by 3 hours and the block time is between 2.5 to 5 hours.
How To Get A Free Meal?
If you witness a delayed departure, contact the relevant airline for the benefits.
- Visit the airline counter at the airport.
- Show them your airline ticket and tell them about your delayed flight.
- Ask for free meals as set forth in the passenger charter.
- They will give you a voucher, from which you can relish your meal.
Also read: Vistara to start direct flights from Mumbai to Abu Dhabi in October
Claim Cancellation Charges
If the airline does not notify you of the cancellation within the prescribed period of at least two weeks in advance, the airline must compensate you. The following guidelines are provided by the DGCA.
- ₹5,000 or one-way base fare booked plus fuel cost, whichever is lower.
- ₹7,500 or the booked one-way base fare plus fuel charge, whichever is lower for flights with a block time of 1 to 2 hours.
- ₹10,000 or the booked one-way base fare plus fuel cost, whichever is lower if the flight block time is more than 2 hours.
Also read: What you should do if your flight gets canceled last minute
NOTE: The compensation policies may vary in different airlines. Always check your airline’s policies before booking and asking for compensation.