• Admin
• November 20, 2025

DGCA Plans 48-Hour Free Flight Cancellation for Air Passengers

Booking a flight always comes with a small risk. Plans change. Dates shift. Work pops up. And if you cancel, the airline usually keeps a good amount as a fee. It’s frustrating, and honestly, most travellers feel it’s unfair.

But now, everything might be about to change.

On 4 November 2025, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) put forward a draft revision to its air ticket-refund rules offering what many travellers have long asked for: a “48-hour look-in window” after booking. During this window, air travellers can cancel or amend your air ticket without paying additional fees.

What’s the Proposal

DGCA has drafted a new regulation under its ticket-refund rules stating that airlines must offer a “look-in option”: travellers can cancel or amend a booking within 48 hours of ticket purchase without any cancellation fee. 

During this 48-hour window, if you cancel, you get a full refund — including statutory taxes/airport fees (e.g. UDF/ADF/PSF) even for promotional or “non-refundable” fares.

If you rebook instead of cancelling, you only pay the revised fare difference

What Else the Draft Covers: Refunds, Name Corrections, Transparency

The 48-hour free-cancellation is only one part of a broader reform package around ticket-refund norms. Key additional proposals include:

• Refunds within fixed timelines: For tickets bought via travel agents or online portals, airlines must complete refunds within 21 working days.
• No forced “credit-shells”: If you cancel, airlines cannot force you into accepting a credit-shell for future travel; you must have the option of a full refund.
• Tax and airport-fee refunds: Even statutory taxes and fees (like ADF, PSF, UDF) must be refunded — even for low-cost or promotional fares that are marketed “non-refundable”.
• Free name corrections: If you book directly on the airline site and notice a spelling error or name mistake, you can correct it within 24 hours at no extra charge.
• Clear disclosure of charges: Airlines must clearly show cancellation charges at the time of booking, so you know upfront what you’ll pay if canceling later. 

What It Means for Travellers — The Benefits

If implemented, these proposals would make a big difference for airline-going passengers in India:

• Greater flexibility — Sometimes you book a flight impulsively or with tentative plans. Now you’d get a 2-day grace period to rethink without financial penalty.
• Fair refunds, even on “non-refundable” fares — Refund of taxes/fees makes promotional/non-refundable tickets less risky.
• Peace of mind when booking directly — Direct booking on airline sites becomes more attractive, giving you more control.
• Less headache with agents/portals — Even if you book via an agent, the airline — not the agent — must handle refund responsibility, reducing chances of being stuck in limbo.
• Clarity and transparency — Advance disclosure of cancellation fees and name-correction allowances help travellers plan more confidently.

What’s Next

While the proposal is promising, there are caveats:

• It’s still a draft. DGCA has invited public feedback until 30 November 2025. Only after reviewing responses will the regulation be finalised and notified.
• Not for last-minute bookings. If departure is in less than 5 days (domestic) / 15 days (international), the 48-hour free-cancellation window doesn’t apply.
• Only direct-bookings are eligible. Bookings via airline websites alone — tickets bought through third-party agents or portals may still be subject to different rules (though airlines remain liable for refunds).
• Standard fees post-window. Once the 48-hour look-in time passes, the usual cancellation charges will apply, along with the usual fare-rules.
• So, this is not a blanket “cancel any time free” safety net. It must be used correctly — within the 48-hour window, with enough lead time before the flight — to get the benefit.

Final Thoughts

The proposed 48-hour look-in rule by DGCA could be a big win for Indian travellers. It gives passengers more flexibility to change plans without losing money. It can reduce stress from booking mistakes or sudden schedule changes. Travellers can rethink their choices within two days and get a full refund if needed.

While it’s not a “cancel anytime” rule and comes with certain conditions, it still offers a safer, more confident way to book flights. For anyone with uncertain plans, this small window can make a huge difference, making air travel simpler and more convenient.

Frequently Asked Questions 

1. What is the DGCA’s 48-hour free cancellation proposal?
   It’s a new idea the DGCA has proposed to give travellers a small safety net. For the first 48 hours after booking, you can cancel or change your ticket without the usual penalty — almost like a short “grace period” in case plans shift or a mistake slips in.
2. Does this rule apply to every kind of booking?
   The 48-hour free-cancellation window is only offered when the ticket is booked directly through the airline. But if someone books through a travel agent or an online portal and later cancels, the airline — not the agent — is still responsible for issuing the refund.
3. Is there any minimum gap required before the flight?
   Yes, the flight must be at least five days away for domestic travel and fifteen days away for international routes. If the departure is too close, the 48-hour option won’t be available.
4. Will the airline refund the full amount within those 48 hours?
   The DGCA wants airlines to return the entire amount — including taxes and fees — if the ticket is cancelled within the window. Even tickets labelled “non-refundable” shouldn’t lose money during this period.
5. What about tickets bought during a sale or at a discounted price?
   Sale fares don’t lose the benefit. Even if the ticket was picked up during a promotion, the free-cancel option still applies as long as it’s cancelled within the 48-hour timeframe.
6. Can I change my travel date instead of cancelling the booking?
   Yes, that’s allowed too. You can modify your booking without paying the usual change fee, though you may need to pay the difference if the new fare is higher. It’s meant to make small adjustments painless.
7. How long do airlines get to process the refund?
   The draft says refunds should be wrapped up within 21 working days. It’s meant to prevent the long waits travellers often deal with when money gets stuck in the system.
8. What happens once the 48-hour window passes?
   After the two days are over, the usual cancellation and modification rules return. Any refund or fee will then depend on the fare type you originally bought.