Greater Noida: India’s aviation regulatory body the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has revised its air tickets refunds norms. The new norms says that the passengers can cancel or change their air tickets without paying an additional charge within 48 hours of making the bookings.
In a press release, the DGCA informed, “The airline shall provide “Look-in option” for a period of 48 hours after booking ticket. During this period passenger can cancel or amend the ticket without any additional charges, except for the normal prevailing fare for the revised flight for which the ticket is sought to be amended. This facility shall not be available for a flight whose departure is less than 7 days for domestic flight and 15 days for international flight from booking date when ticket is booked directly through airline website. Beyond 48 hours of initial booking time, this option is not available and the passenger has to pay the relevant cancellation fees for amendment.”
Other norms:
- In case of credit card payments, refund shall be made by the airlines within seven days of the cancellation to the account of credit card holder.
- In case of cash transactions, refund shall be made immediately by the airlines office from where the ticket was purchased.
- In case of purchase of ticket through travel agent/portal, onus of refund shall lie with the airlines as agents are their appointed representatives.
The airlines shall ensure that the refund process is completed within 14 working days. - The airlines shall refund all statutory taxes and User Development Fee (UDF)/Airport Development Fee (ADF)/Passenger Service Fee (PSF) to the passengers in case of cancellation/non-utilisation of tickets/no show.
This provision shall also be applicable for all types of fares offered including promos/special fares and where the basic fare is non-refundable. - The option of holding the refund amount in credit shell by the airlines shall be the prerogative of the passenger and not a default practice of the airline.
- The airlines should indicate in an unambiguous manner the amount of refund of money admissible on cancellation of a ticket. For this purpose, the amount and its break-up may be indicated on the ticket itself or through separate form used for the purpose, and the policy and amount of refund shall also be displayed by the airlines on their respective websites.
