Air Ticket Refund : Big news for plane passengers. Air travellers may soon be allowed to cancel or modify their tickets within 48 hours of booking without any additional charges, as aviation regulator DGCA is proposing significant changes to ticket refund rules.
Further, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed that in case of purchase of tickets through travel agents/portals, “the onus of refund will be on the airlines as the agents are their appointed representatives”.
The refund process will be completed within 21 days. Airlines will have to ensure that refunds are processed within 21 working days, the regulator said while proposing changes to the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) related to air ticket refunds. The proposed changes also come against the backdrop of concerns and issues related to air ticket refunds.
According to the draft CAR, “When the ticket is booked directly from the airline’s website, the airline shall not levy any additional charges for correction in the name of the same person if the error is reported by the passenger within 24 hours of booking.” According to the DGCA, the airline will provide a “look-in option” up to 48 hours after booking the ticket.
During this period, passengers can cancel or modify tickets without any additional charges, except the normal prevailing fare of the revised flight for which the ticket is to be modified.”
This facility will not be applicable on these flights
Additionally, this facility will not be available for flights whose departure date is less than five days for domestic flights and 15 days for international flights, when the ticket is booked directly from the airline’s website. “After 48 hours of the initial booking time, this option is not available and the passenger will have to pay the relevant cancellation charges for the amendment,” the draft CAR said.
Another proposal is that airlines may refund tickets or provide a credit shell in case a passenger cancels a ticket due to a medical emergency. The DGCA has sought comments from stakeholders on the draft CAR by November 30.
