{"id":3347,"date":"2023-01-05T01:34:10","date_gmt":"2023-01-04T20:04:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.surffares.com\/travelguru\/?p=3347"},"modified":"2023-05-21T23:47:08","modified_gmt":"2023-05-21T18:17:08","slug":"rights-as-a-passenger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/surffares.com\/travelguru\/rights-as-a-passenger\/","title":{"rendered":"Rights as a Passenger in Case of Flight Cancellation or Denied Boarding in India"},"content":{"rendered":"

Flight cancellations<\/strong> and being denied boarding <\/strong>are less frequent phenomena in India, but they do happen. Though flight cancellation can have many reasons, denied boarding generally occurs due to over-booking, when the airline fails to accommodate passenger(s) who were allotted seats.<\/p>\n

Therefore, the DGCA has strict guidelines in place to protect the interest of passengers in such situations.<\/p>\n

This blog covers all significant details, from compensation amount to how to claim it in case of flight cancellation or denied boarding in India<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Read on to find out the latest air travel passenger rights in 2023!<\/p>\n

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Passenger Rights During Flight Cancellations<\/h2>\n

Flight cancellations<\/strong> can negatively impact travel plans. Usually, the airlines should inform passengers about cancellations a minimum of two weeks before the scheduled departure.<\/p>\n

In case of a flight cancellation, passengers are provided with two options from the airline. They can either get a full refund of the booking amount or a seat on another flight<\/a> arranged by the same airline.<\/p>\n

The DGCA website<\/a> states that airlines are solely responsible for providing a full refund or arranging another flight when they inform the passengers less than two weeks before the departure but a minimum of 24 hours prior to it.<\/p>\n

If the airline fails to notify passengers about the cancellation at least 24 hours before departure, or in exceptional cases where a passenger misses a connecting flight booked with the same ticket<\/a> number due to cancellation, the airline is held responsible. The airline, in this situation, needs to pay a compensation of Rs.5000 to Rs.10,000 to the passenger.<\/p>\n

This refund is made instantly in case the passenger has made the booking with cash. However, if the reservation was made using a credit\/debit card, the entire amount will be refunded to the source account within 7 days<\/a> of refund initiation.<\/p>\n

If the passengers have opted for booking via an agent or any third party, the amount will be refunded, deducting taxes involved in the process. You can put the refund amount to book another ticket at a later date, at your convenience.<\/p>\n

Passenger Rights\u00a0if Denied Boarding<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Though this situation is rare and exceptional, there are certain guidelines<\/a> put forward by DGCA to safeguard the rights of flyers. If a passenger with a valid ticket is denied boarding, the airline is liable to put them on an alternate flight which starts within 1 hour of the original departure of the previous flight.<\/p>\n

If the airline fails to do so, they are liable to compensate the passenger(s). If another flight is arranged by the airline within 24 hours of the initial flight’s departure, up to Rs. 10,000 worth of compensation has to be paid by the airline.<\/p>\n

In contrast, up to Rs. 20,000 should be paid if the alternative flight is beyond 24 hours of the initial flight’s departure.<\/p>\n

Passenger Rights if Transferred to a Lower Class<\/h2>\n

The latest announcements by DGCA inform passengers that new guidelines are likely to come up where the airlines will have to issue refunds to passengers who have been transferred to the lower class.<\/p>\n

Additionally, the new guidelines will hold the airline responsible for carrying the passenger in the same class as mentioned in the original booking. This can be done via the next earliest flight.<\/p>\n

Claiming Compensation: Everything You Need to Know<\/h2>\n

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