DGCA makes air ticket refund rules passenger friendly; no additional charges for changes within 48 hours of booking

DGCA updates air ticket refund rules, allowing free cancellations or changes within 48 hours of booking for passengers.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has amended the air ticket refund rules making it passenger friendly. 

Passengers can now cancel or amend the ticket without paying any additional charges within 48 hours of booking. Only the normal prevailing fare for the revised flight  - for which the ticket is sought to be amended - has to be paid.

The aviation regulator said airlines shall provide “Look-in option” for a period of 48 hours after booking ticket to facilitate this option for the passengers. 

However, the facility would not be available for a flight whose departure is less than seven days for domestic flight and 15 days for international flight from booking date when the ticket is booked directly through airline website. 

Beyond 48 hours of initial booking time, the passengers would have to pay the relevant cancellation fees for amendment.

“Airline shall not levy any additional charge for correction in name of the same person when the error is pointed out by the passenger within 24 hours of making the booking, when ticket is booked directly through airline website”, the DGCA said.