📌 Details: Know Your Air Travel Rights in India (As of 2025):
If your flight is delayed, cancelled, or rescheduled, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and airline policies entitle you to specific rights. Here’s what every air passenger in India should know:
🕑 1. Flight Delay Compensation:
- Delays >2 hours: Airlines must provide meals and refreshments.
- Delays >6 hours (announced more than 24 hours in advance):
- Airline must offer rescheduling or full refund.
- Overnight delay: You’re entitled to free hotel accommodation and transport between airport and hotel.
❌ 2. Flight Cancellation or Rescheduling:
- If the airline cancels the flight less than 2 weeks but more than 24 hours before departure, they must offer:
- Alternative flight within 2 hours of original time or
- Full refund
- Last-minute cancellations (<24 hours before departure): You may be eligible for monetary compensation (₹5,000 to ₹10,000 depending on ticket price and notice period).
🎫 3. Denied Boarding (Overbooking):
- If you’re denied boarding despite a confirmed ticket:
- You are eligible for compensation, alternative flight, and meals/accommodation.
- Compensation: Up to 400% of the ticket fare or a max of ₹20,000.
📞 4. How to File a Complaint:
- Step 1: File a complaint with the airline’s grievance redressal portal.
- Step 2: If unresolved, escalate to DGCA’s AirSewa portal:
- Step 3: You can also write to nodal officers of airlines or approach consumer courts if necessary.
📋 Tips to Keep in Mind:
- Always carry your booking reference and boarding pass.
- Record delay times and ask for written confirmation from airline staff.
- Keep receipts for food or alternate travel expenses (in case of delay/cancellation).
