There is a big relief news for the passengers traveling by air in India. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has made major changes in the rules in view of the complaints of passengers. According to the new order, now passengers will be able to cancel or change the ticket within 48 hours of booking it and airlines will not be able to charge any extra fee for this. This new rule will become effective across the country from March 26, 2026. This will benefit the most those people who book tickets in a hurry or whose plans change suddenly.
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What is the new 48 hour rule and its conditions?
DGCA has named it ‘Look-in Option’. Under this, if you book tickets directly from the airline’s website, you can cancel or change the ticket without any penalty within 48 hours of booking. However, there are some important conditions laid down for this which every traveler should know:
Domestic flights: This facility will be available only if your travel date is at least 7 days away from the date of booking.
International flights: For travelers visiting Gulf countries or abroad, the date of travel should be at least 15 days away from the booking.
Fare difference: If you change flights and the fare of the new flight is higher, you will only have to pay the difference in fare, no separate change fee will be charged.
Booking Method: This discount will be available only on tickets booked from the official website of the airline. This rule is not currently applicable on tickets booked through agents or any other app.
What are the instructions regarding refund and name correction?
It has often been seen that it takes months for passengers to get refunds, but now this has also been tightened. According to the new rules, if you have paid through credit card, the refund will have to be processed within 7 days. Whereas, if there is cash payment then you will get immediate refund from the airline office. On booking through agents, the airline must ensure that the money is refunded within 14 days.
Additionally, if there is any minor mistake in the spelling of the name while booking the ticket, it can be rectified without any charges within 24 hours of booking. In case of medical emergency or hospitalization of a passenger, airlines will have to provide a full refund or credit shell, and it will be up to the passenger to choose what he wants. Also, if you do not travel, the airlines will have to refund the entire tax amount.
