Flight Cancellation Refund can be claimed through the airline or booking platform when a ticket is cancelled, but the amount returned depends on who cancelled the flight, the fare rules and applicable charges.
How to Claim a Flight Cancellation Refund
Passengers can start the refund process through the official website or app of the airline or booking platform used for the reservation.
After logging in, they can open their booking, select the ticket to be cancelled and enter the required PNR or booking details.
Before confirming the cancellation, passengers should check the refund amount and applicable charges displayed for the booking.
Once the cancellation and refund request are submitted, the amount is generally sent back through the applicable payment method.
For tickets booked through a travel agent or online travel portal, the refund process can involve the booking intermediary.
However, under DGCA rules, the airline remains responsible for ensuring that the refund process is completed within the prescribed period.
When Do Passengers Get a Full Refund?
If an airline cancels a flight, passengers are entitled to a full refund of the air ticket under the applicable passenger-protection rules.
Depending on the circumstances, passengers may also be offered an alternative flight.
When passengers cancel a ticket themselves, however, a full refund is not automatically available.
The refund depends on the airline’s fare conditions, cancellation timing and the charges applicable to the booking.
The latest DGCA framework also provides a 48-hour look-in period for eligible tickets booked directly through an airline website.
During this period, passengers can cancel or amend the booking without an additional cancellation charge, subject to conditions related to the scheduled departure date.
Flight Cancellation Refund Rules You Should Know
Under the revised rules, airlines must refund statutory taxes and applicable passenger-related charges when a ticket is cancelled or remains unused, including in cases where the basic fare itself is non-refundable.
The refund timeline also depends on the payment method and booking channel.
For credit-card payments, airlines are required to make the refund within seven days of cancellation, while refunds involving tickets purchased through travel agents or portals are subject to the prescribed 14-working-day timeline.
Airlines must also clearly display cancellation charges and refund details.
Passengers should therefore check the refund breakup before confirming cancellation rather than assuming that the entire ticket amount will be returned.
What Passengers Should Do After Cancellation
Passengers should save the cancellation confirmation, refund reference and booking details after submitting a request.
These records can be useful if the refund does not arrive within the applicable timeline.
Flight Cancellation Refund rules can differ according to the circumstances, so travellers should distinguish between an airline-initiated cancellation and a cancellation made voluntarily by the passenger.
Checking the applicable fare conditions and DGCA protections can help passengers understand how much they are entitled to receive.
