Indians abroad will soon be able to book flight tickets from India to USA, Canada, Europe, and other countries for their parents or family in INR without worrying about airlines’ hefty cancellation fees. India’s civil aviation regulator, DGCA, has proposed airlines to consider a 48-hour window for free flight ticket cancellations – just like the free 24-hour booking cancellation rule in the United States. Free rescheduling of a flight reservation within 48 hours of booking has also been proposed.
What is the new 48-hour free flight cancellation rule in India
DGCA’s proposal for free flight cancellation and amendment within 48 hours of booking is a thoughtful move to recognize travelers’ rights in India. Many travelers end up paying the airline fee in thousands of rupees for cancelling refundable bookings or losing the entire value of non-refundable airline tickets due to unprecedented events, like medical emergency or death-like exigency in the family. This is part of DGCA’s broader plans to make air travel more transparent and accessible, including the latest guidelines for wheelchair service at Indian airports.
Key details of DGCA’s proposal for free flight cancellation
- The free 48-hour window would cover both domestic airlines and international airline tickets for flights originating in India.
- Domestic flights scheduled to take off after 5 days from the date of booking would be eligible for free cancellation and rescheduling in India.
- International travel scheduled within 15 days from the booking date won’t be eligible for free cancellation or rescheduling within 48 hours of booking.
- The free 48-hour window would let you reschedule your travel for new dates or upgrade your tickets from Economy to a premium class without the airline fee, but fair difference may apply.
- Airlines may issue a refund or credit the value of tickets in the form of a voucher in case you cancel a confirmed flight booking on grounds of a medical emergency.
DGCA proposed free name corrections in flight tickets
DGCA also proposed a 24-hour window for free name corrections in domestic and international flight tickets. Once the proposal becomes a provision, you would be able to correct spelling errors in your name within 24 hours of booking a flight in or from India, without paying any fee to airlines. Misspellings of travelers’ names are not uncommon during a flight sale period when cheap airline deals are booked at a hurried pace. Of course, free or paid correction of name spellings is subject to your identity verification by airlines.
Also Check: A Guide on Major Airlines’ Policy for Passenger Name Correction
FAQs:
When will DGCA’s 48-hour free cancellation rule be effective?
The proposed rule is under consideration now. It is anticipated to take effect on or after 30 November 2025.
Will the 48-hour free flight cancellation rule apply to US-India itineraries?
Most probably, no. India’s free flight ticket cancellation within 48 hours of booking would apply to itineraries, one way or round trip, originating in India.
