There's significant news for air travelers. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed major changes to the rules governing air ticket refunds and cancellations. This aims to provide greater convenience, transparency, and security for travelers. The difficulties travelers often face when canceling or changing flights may gradually be eliminated.

48-Hour Free Cancellation and Change Facility
Under the DGCA's new proposal, passengers will now be able to cancel or modify their tickets free of charge within 48 hours of booking. This is known as the "look-in period." This means that if you book a ticket and suddenly change your plans, you can make changes within 48 hours without penalty.

However, this feature will not apply to certain bookings, such as if the ticket is booked less than five days before the flight for a domestic flight or less than 15 days before the flight for an international flight. In these circumstances, the airline's normal cancellation charges will still apply.

Refunds will no longer be stuck, and they will be refunded within 21 days.
One of the biggest complaints among passengers was delayed refunds. The DGCA has proposed to address this issue. Airlines will now be required to provide refunds within 21 working days. Furthermore, even if a passenger cancels their ticket at the last minute or fails to board the flight (no-show), the airline will still be required to refund airport fees and taxes.

The DGCA has also clarified that if a passenger requests a minor name correction (such as a spelling error) within 24 hours of booking, airlines cannot charge any additional fees.

Relief for Travel Agents and Medical Emergencies
Many times, passengers book their tickets through travel agents and later face issues with refunds. According to the DGCA's proposal, refunds for such tickets will be the responsibility of the airlines, not the agents. This will provide a straightforward and quick solution for passengers.

Relief has also been provided to passengers in situations such as medical emergencies. If a passenger has to cancel a flight due to illness or an emergency, the airline can only issue a credit shell (travel voucher) in that situation, but it cannot be implemented without the passenger's consent.

Passenger Rights Will Be Strengthened
This DGCA proposal is an important step towards strengthening the rights of air passengers. This will not only increase airline accountability but will also make the entire process from ticket booking to refund more transparent and reliable. Passengers will now have the confidence that if their flight is cancelled or needs to be changed, both their money and time are protected.

Disclaimer: This content has been sourced and edited from TV9. While we have made modifications for clarity and presentation, the original content belongs to its respective authors and website. We do not claim ownership of the content.