Air Ticket Refund Rules: 14 Days, 48 Hours, What to Know

The air ticket refund rules for Indian flyers changed after DGCA issued a revised Civil Aviation Requirement on 24 February 2026. The headline changes are a 48 hour window to cancel or amend a ticket, and a 14 working day deadline for refunds.

Air ticket refund rules: the 48 hour look-in option

According to All India Radio’s report, airlines must offer a look-in option for 48 hours after booking. In that time, a passenger can cancel or amend the ticket without additional charges. If you move to a new flight, you pay only the normal fare for that flight.

However, the option has limits. It does not apply when departure is less than 7 days away on a domestic trip, or less than 15 days away on an international one. These limits are measured from the booking date and apply to tickets bought directly on the airline website. Then, after 48 hours, standard cancellation fees apply.

We have also covered the older rule on free changes in our explainer on the 48 hour flight cancellation rule.

Refund deadline and who pays

Airlines must complete refunds within 14 working days. This applies whether you paid by card, UPI or another method. Also, if you booked through a travel agent or portal, the airline carries the responsibility. Agents act as the airline’s appointed representatives, so you should not be sent back and forth.

In practice, keep your PNR, payment proof and the cancellation confirmation. If the money does not arrive in time, write to the airline first. Then escalate with those records in hand.

Name corrections and medical cases

So a spelling error on a ticket can be costly. Under the revised rules, correcting the name of the same person carries no extra charge if you flag it within 24 hours. Also, this applies to tickets booked directly on the airline website.

However, medical cases are handled separately. If the passenger or a family member on the same PNR is admitted to hospital during the travel period, airlines may offer a refund or a credit shell. In other medical cases, the refund follows an opinion on the passenger’s fitness to travel from an Aerospace Medicine specialist.

Common mistakes to avoid

First, do not assume the 48 hour window covers every ticket. Last minute bookings fall outside it. Second, do not rely on a travel agent to chase your refund quietly, because the airline is accountable. Third, do not wait. Cancel as soon as plans change, since fees rise after the window closes.

Meanwhile, if your problem is a flight you could not board, the rules differ. Read our guide to denied boarding compensation for that case.

Also, the background matters. The changes followed rising refund complaints and the disruption of December 2025. Rules can be updated again, so check the DGCA site for the latest text before you act.

How to claim a refund step by step

1. Cancel the ticket on the airline website or app, and save the confirmation.
2. Note the date, your PNR and the payment method used.
3. Watch for the refund over the next 14 working days.
4. If it is late, write to the airline’s customer care and keep the reply.
5. Escalate with those records if the airline does not respond.

Doing this in order keeps the trail clean, so any later complaint is easy to prove.

FAQ

What is the 48 hour look-in option?

It lets you cancel or amend a ticket without extra charges for 48 hours after booking. You still pay any fare difference on a revised flight.

How long does an airline have to refund a cancelled ticket?

Airlines must complete refunds within 14 working days. For agent or portal bookings, the airline holds the responsibility for the refund.

Does the 48 hour rule apply to last minute bookings?

No. It is not available if departure is under 7 days away on a domestic trip, or under 15 days away on an international trip.