Good News! You May Get Full Refund On Cancelled Or Rescheduled Air Tickets Within 48 Hrs Of Booking; Here’s How

Good news for travellers! People booking air tickets will now be able to cancel with a full refund or reschedule them within 48 hours without having to pay any additional charges. This new change comes as a relief for those who wish to alter their travel plans after booking their flight tickets. Not just that, the DGCA has also proposed some other changes, too. Keep reading to know all about this. 

Passengers Can Now Get Full Refund On Their Cancelled Air Tickets 

It’s a very common problem we have all faced: booking plane tickets and then wanting to make changes because of sudden shifts in plans. But yes, depending on the airline’s policy, making these changes usually comes at a price. Either tickets are non-refundable, or a cancellation fee is deducted. But this might soon change. As per a report by The Economic Times, passengers travelling by air may soon be able to cancel with a full refund or reschedule their flight tickets. And that too, without paying additional charges. The only catch is that they would have to do it within 48 hours.

This new change was recently proposed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the aviation body of India. These new rules were discussed in the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) related to the refund of air tickets. The authorities have also announced that if a passenger has booked a flight ticket through a travel agent or a portal, the responsibility of the refund will lie with the airline. This is because the agents are their appointed representatives.

Reportedly, airlines will have to ensure that the entire refund process is completed within 21 working days. These changes come after many people raised issues related to air ticket refunds.

Also Read: Air India Pilots Grounded After Flying With Expired Licences And Skipping Mandatory Training; DGCA Orders Investigation

48-Hour Look-In Option For Passengers 

According to a report by The Economic Times, the DGCA also announced that airlines cannot levy an additional charge for correction in the name of the same person. If a passenger points reports an error within 24 hours of booking, it will be corrected for free. This applies only to tickets booked directly through the airline’s website.

Airlines will now also provide a ‘Look-in Option’ for a period of 48 hours after booking a ticket. During this period, a passenger can cancel or amend a ticket without paying extra. However, you will still have to pay the fare difference for the new flight you opt for. In case of a refund, the airline may provide the full amount or offer a credit shell. This will be applicable if a ticket is cancelled due to a medical emergency.

It should be noted that this facility will not be available for passengers who have a departure in less than five days for domestic flights. For international flights, this does not apply if the departure is within 15 days of the booking date.

Also Read: Boeing 787 Pilots Urge DGCA To Roll Back Flight Duty Time; Cite Safety Risks Due To Restricted Seat Recline

These new changes might come as a relief for passengers who might have found themselves in a fix due to change of plans after booking flight tickets. 

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ Quang Nguyen Vinh and Torsten Dettlaff (Representative Image)