New Delhi: Air passengers may soon be able to cancel or amend their tickets without additional charges within 48 hours of booking, as the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has proposed major revisions to ticket refund norms.

Refund Responsibility to Lie with Airlines

Under the proposed rules, if a passenger purchases a ticket through a travel agent or portal, the responsibility for issuing the refund will rest with the airline, since agents are considered their appointed representatives. The DGCA has also directed that the refund process must be completed within 21 working days.

These proposed changes aim to address ongoing concerns related to air ticket refunds and improve transparency in refund practices.

No Extra Fee for Name Corrections

According to the draft Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), an airline “shall not levy any additional charge for correction in name of the same person when the error is pointed out by the passenger within 24 hours of making the booking, when ticket is booked directly through airline website.”

Introduction of 48-Hour ‘Look-In Option’

The DGCA has proposed that airlines provide a ‘Look-in option’ allowing passengers to cancel or modify their tickets within 48 hours of booking without incurring any penalty, except for the prevailing fare difference for a revised flight.

This facility, however, will not apply to flights departing within five days (domestic) or fifteen days (international) from the booking date, when the ticket is booked directly through the airline’s website.

Once the 48-hour period expires, passengers will need to pay the applicable cancellation or amendment fees.

Refunds in Case of Medical Emergencies

Another key proposal suggests that airlines may issue a refund or credit shell if a passenger cancels a ticket due to a medical emergency.

Stakeholder Feedback Invited

The DGCA has invited comments from stakeholders on the draft CAR until November 30 before finalising the revised rules.