Anyone who has booked a flight on Indigo or SpiceJet and has had to cancel the ticket knows this only too well: the refund usually is just one-third of what the ticket costs. There is never a good explanation for why the passenger shouldn’t get all the money back. After all, there is no real loss of business for the airline. Indigo, for instance, runs at a passenger load factor of more than 90 per cent. On the other hand, should the airline cancel a flight, well, all the best to you.

Therefore, the new draft rules that the industry regulator, Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has proposed have been long in coming. But, as they say, better late than never. According to the proposed rules, passengers will be able to cancel their tickets without any penalty within 48 hours of booking, provided the domestic flight is not departing within 5 days of booking. In the case of international flights, the rider is 15 days. In case of cancellation due to medical emergency, no cancellation fee will be applicable. Besides, airlines will be required to make the refund within 21 days, even if the ticket has been booked via a travel agency or a portal.

Rules in the US & the EU

How do other countries protect airline passenger rights? Let’s look at........

© News9Live