In what comes as a huge relief for air travelers traveling during these uncertain times, Air India announced waivers for its passengers holding tickets for international travel to different countries, including the USA, UK, and UAE. The airline comes up with various waivers to offer more flexibility to passengers whose scheduled travel got affected as countries tightened entry rules on travelers from India amid rising COVID-19 cases in the country.
As far as travel between India and USA is concerned, the airline’s recent move can be considered a follow-up action to its curtailment of the US-India flight schedule in May amid US travel restrictions on India. So, if you hold a ticket issued before 4 May 2021 for travel between India and USA after this date, here’s what you are entitled to.
- Cancellation fee waiver if your flight had been canceled.
- Change penalty waiver if your travel plans got affected either because of a revision in entry guidelines or because Air India canceled your scheduled flight as part of the changes it made to its flight schedule between USA and India. For these passengers, Air India is waiving the charge for the first day/ flight/ sector change.
Passengers affected by a revision in entry guidelines of the countries can rebook their flight ticket for a future date till 31 October 2021 (excluding the black-out period) without any charges. Note that the difference of fare will be applicable for rebooking during the black-out period (25 July to 05 September for flying out of India and 01 June to 10 July for flying to India) and also in cases when the same booking class is not available. Rerouting charges will be waived for sector change; however, the fare difference applies.
Air India has made it clear that these waiver options will be applicable till the time the entry restrictions are relaxed.
