DGCA Eases Refund Rules After Rise In Complaints, Introduces Free 48-Hour ‘Look-In’ Option

India’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has introduced a major change that could make booking flight tickets far less stressful for passengers. In a move aimed at making air travel more passenger-friendly, the DGCA has revised its refund rules. Flyers will now be able to cancel or modify their tickets within 48 hours of booking without paying any cancellation or amendment charges.

DGCA Revises Air Ticket Refund Rules With 48-Hour Free Cancellation

Under the new Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR), airlines must provide what is being called a 48-hour “look-in option.” According to Moneycontrol, If you book a flight, you have 48 hours to change your mind. You can cancel the ticket without paying cancellation fees or modify the booking without paying amendment charges. If you switch to a more expensive flight, you only pay the fare difference. In today’s fast-moving digital booking world, that small window could make a big difference.

However, the free 48-hour cancellation does not apply in every situation. The facility will not be available if a domestic flight is scheduled to depart within 7 days from the date of booking or an international flight is scheduled to depart within 15 days from the date of booking. Also, this exception specifically applies to tickets booked directly on an airline’s website. After the 48-hour window closes, normal airline cancellation and modification charges will apply, Moneycontrol reported.

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Domestic And International Flyers To Benefit

Another major relief for passengers involves name corrections. The DGCA has directed airlines not to charge extra fees for correcting a passenger’s name, as long as the error is reported within 24 hours of booking and the ticket was purchased directly from the airline’s website. Earlier, even small spelling mistakes could result in hefty correction charges. This new rule removes that burden.

Even if a ticket is booked through a third party, like a travel agent, the airline remains responsible for processing the refund, Moneycontrol reported. The revised rules also address sensitive situations like medical emergencies.

If a passenger, or a family member travelling on the same PNR, is hospitalised during the travel period, airlines may offer either a refund or a credit shell for future travel. In other medical cases, refunds will be processed after evaluation by an airline-appointed or DGCA-empanelled aerospace medicine specialist, who will assess the passenger’s fitness to travel.

The new rules come after growing complaints about delayed refunds and refund-related issues. As India’s aviation market continues to grow rapidly, these revised norms signal that consumer protection is becoming a bigger priority.

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