The DGCA is transforming the flying experience with sweeping updates to booking regulations, starting with a generous 48-hour free cancellation and modification period.
Travelers booking tickets now have 48 hours to rethink without penalty. Changes to other flights may incur fare adjustments, but no cancellation fees apply in this timeframe.
Conditions include a seven-day buffer for domestic and 15-day for international departures. After 48 hours, original fee structures resume.
Published February 24, the rules take flight on March 26, 2026, alongside refined name correction and refund protocols.
Airlines waive fees for name errors on direct bookings reported in 24 hours. Agent-mediated bookings place refund duty squarely on carriers, completable in 14 working days.
Credit card refunds process in seven days; cash gets immediate return. Statutory taxes and service fees are always reimbursable in no-shows or cancellations.
These changes stem from passenger feedback, aiming to curb exploitative practices. With air traffic surging, such protections are timely.
Experts hail this as a step towards global standards, potentially influencing booking behaviors positively. Passengers are advised to note these timelines for hassle-free journeys ahead.