US EditionChange of plans? Soon, you may get full refund if you cancel or reschedule your air ticket within 48 hours of booking
DGCA plans reforms requiring airlines to complete refunds within 21 working days and allow free cancellations or rescheduling within 48 hours of booking, addressing rising passenger complaints.
- On November 04, 2025 the Directorate General of Civil Aviation proposed passengers may cancel or reschedule free within 48 hours of booking, and airlines must complete refunds within 21 working days.
- Facing rising complaints, the DGCA drafted reforms as a growing number of refund complaints prompted officials to reduce cancellation costs for passengers and travel agents.
- The draft CAR specifies that beyond the 48-hour 'look-in option', passengers must pay cancellation fees; it also states airline shall not levy charges for passenger name correction within 24 hours when booked directly via airline website.
- The regulator proposed that airlines bear refund responsibility even for tickets bought through travel agents and may refund or credit cancellations due to medical emergencies.
- Certain bookings are excluded, as the draft states flights departing within five days and 15 days from booking via airline website are exempt, and stakeholders’ comments deadline is November 30.
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Big relief for air travellers! You may soon be allowed free cancellation within 48 hours of booking
Cancelling a flight ticket due to a change in plans is always challenging, as it usually results in a cost to the traveller. However, this could soon be a thing of the past, as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed a significant reform that would enable passengers to cancel or reschedule flight tickets free of charge within 48 hours of booking. Besides, the aviation watchdog has proposed that in case of purchase of a tick…
Air passengers may now get full refund if they cancel or reschedule ticket within 48 hours of booking
During this period, passengers can cancel or amend the ticket without any additional charges, except for the normal prevailing fare for the revised flight for which the ticket is sought to be amended.
Travellers could soon get option to refund, reschedule, cancel flight tickets
India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation has proposed new regulations that would allow airline passengers to reschedule or cancel their flights within 48 hours of booking, with public feedback sought until November 30. The proposals also address refund practices and stipulate timelines for reimbursement when travel agents are involved.
Air Passengers May Soon Be Allowed To Cancel, Amend Tickets Without Paying More
Air passengers may soon be allowed to cancel or amend their tickets without additional charges within 48 hours of booking, with aviation watchdog DGCA proposing significant changes in the ticket refund norms.
Change of plans? Soon, you may get full refund if you cancel or reschedule your air ticket within 48 hours of booking
Additionally, the DGCA mooted that if a passenger books a ticket through a third party like a travel agent or online portal, the “onus of refund shall lie with the airlines as agents are their appointed representatives”.
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