Govt may relax rules for air ticket cancellations

PROFLYERS Free cancellation within 24 hrs of booking, refunds for delays soon NEWDELHI:

Flyers will soon be able to cancel flight tickets free of charge within 24 hours of booking as long as there are at least four days for the scheduled departure.

This was specified in a draft passenger charter issued by the civil aviation ministry on Tuesday. Under the new set of rules put forth in the document, which aims to enhance air traveller rights, passengers will also be entitled to a refund if the flight is delayed for over four hours and the delay has been communicated a day in advance. Additionally, missing a connecting flight due to a delay caused by the airline will get travellers a refund of anywhere between ~5,000 and ~20,000.

The draft will be kept open for public consultation for 30 days. The government expects to notify it by mid-July.

“If a passenger is informed about the cancellation of his flight less than two weeks before and up to 24 hours of the scheduled departure time, the airline must offer an alternative flight that allows the passenger to depart within two hours of the booked scheduled departure time or allow the refund of his ticket, as may be acceptable to the passenger,” a draft rule read.

The charter also stated that passengers must be provided hot snacks and beverages free of cost if their flight is stationed on the tarmac for over 60 minutes. They should be de-boarded if the waiting period crosses 120 minutes, it added.

“Moreover, if a passenger is denied boarding due to overbooking, the airline is liable to pay a compensation of ~5,000 or more, depending on the ticket value. In case any baggage is lost, delayed or damaged, the limit of liability to be paid will be the same for both international and domestic passengers. The minimum compensation will be: ~3,000 per kg for loss of baggage, ~1,000 per kg for delay and ~1,000 per kg for damage,” another draft rule stated. Passenger allowed 24 hours after booking during which they can cancel or amend ticket without any charges. This, however, is as long as it is more than four days in advance

Passengers must be given the option to switch to an alternate flight within two hours of the original departure, if the cancellation of flight is announced between two weeks

Full refund if departure is delayed by more than four hours and flyer is informed 24 hours in advance Airline’s liability to be uniform for international and domestic passengers Under no circumstance will airline (or agent) levy cancellation charges that is more than the basic fare plus fuel surcharge and 24 hours in advance Passengers must be refunded full value of ticket if flight is cancelled 24 hours before departure If delay causes passengers to lose connecting flights, airlines to pay compensation