Now, cancel air ticket for free within 48 hours

Now, cancel air ticket for free within 48 hours 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 27.02.2026

New Delhi : Airlines will now provide a “look-in option” for a period of 48 hours after booking a ticket during which a passenger can cancel or amend the ticket without any additional charges, except fare difference, if the departure date is at least 7 and 15 days hence for domestic and international flights, respectively.

 Airlines will need to ensure refunds within 14 days and they will no longer be allowed to levy any charge for a name correction being made within 24 hours of the booking being made on their website. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has from Thursday revised refund rules and introduced passenger-friendly measures in what is often a painful process for travellers. “In case of purchase of ticket through travel agent/portal, onus of refund shall lie with airlines as agents are their appointed representatives. 

Airlines shall ensure that the refund process is completed within 14 working days,” the amended rules issued by DGCA chief Faiz Ahmed Kidwai say. “In the event of ticket cancellations due to a medical emergency, where the passenger or a family member listed on the same PNR gets admitted/hospitalised during the travel period, airlines may provide either a refund or a credit shell. 

For all other situations, refunds will be issued once an opinion on the passenger’s fitness to travel certificate is received from an airline’s aerospace medicine specialist/ DGCA empanelled aerospace medicine specialist,” reads another amendment introduced in the rules. The regulator has ruled that airlines “shall not levy any additional charge for correction in the name of the same person when the error is pointed out by the passenger within 24 hours of making the booking, when the ticket is booked directly through the airline website