DGCA wants to make air ticket cancelations easier
Thinking of booking a flight but worried about last-minute changes? The DGCA is proposing a new rule that lets you cancel your air ticket for free within 48 hours of booking—no penalties, no hassle.
However, this does not apply to flights departing within 5 days for domestic or 15 days for international bookings.
This comes after complaints about refund policies, including delays in refunding unused tickets.
The draft is open for public feedback until November 30, 2025.
What's included (and what's not)
A heads-up: this free cancelation window won't apply if your domestic flight leaves in less than five days or your international flight departs in under 15 days from booking.
If you cancel after the 48-hour mark, airlines can only charge you the basic fare plus fuel fees (no sneaky extras).
Refunds should hit your card within seven days, and cash refunds are supposed to be instant at the ticket counter.
All part of an effort to make airline policies fairer and more transparent for everyone.