Flight delay compensation India rules are often misunderstood. The answer depends on whether your flight was delayed, cancelled or you were denied boarding. Under DGCA’s passenger charter, a delay alone earns no fixed cash payment. Long delays, however, bring meals, hotels or a refund. So here is who gets what, using figures summarised by Wego and rules described in a government reply to Parliament.
Quick answer
- Delay: no fixed cash payment, but meals from 2 hours and, for long delays, a refund, alternate flight or hotel.
- Cancellation with less than 24 hours’ notice: alternate flight or full refund, plus compensation of up to ₹10,000.
- Fog and other extraordinary causes: cash compensation is generally not owed, but a refund is.
- Complain to the airline first, then escalate on the AirSewa portal.
Flight delay compensation India: what a delay earns you
The rules work on the scheduled block time of the flight. That is the time from leaving the gate to reaching the other gate. Longer delays unlock more help. However, most of it needs you to have checked in on time.
According to Wego’s summary, meals and refreshments are owed once a delay reaches 2 hours. The amount depends on the waiting time. On a domestic flight delayed by more than 6 hours, the airline must offer an alternate flight within 6 hours, or a full refund. Hotel accommodation, including transfers, applies in two cases. One is a delay of over 6 hours on a flight due between 8 pm and 3 am. The other is any delay over 24 hours.
What you get when a flight is cancelled
Here the notice period decides everything. If the airline tells you two weeks or more ahead, you choose between an alternate flight and a refund. The same choice applies with less than two weeks but at least 24 hours’ notice.
Less than 24 hours’ notice is different. Then you are owed an acceptable alternate flight or a full refund, plus cash compensation. That compensation is the lower of two figures: a fixed amount or the one-way basic fare plus fuel charge.
| Block time of flight | Fixed compensation (cap) |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 hour | ₹5,000 |
| 1 to 2 hours | ₹7,500 |
| Over 2 hours | ₹10,000 |
If you are already at the airport waiting for a replacement flight, you are also owed meals. The government reply to Parliament confirms the broad structure. If the passenger was not told in advance, the airline owes compensation or an alternate flight, plus a full refund.
When the airline does not have to pay
Airlines need not compensate when the cause is “extraordinary circumstances beyond the control of the airline”. Fog is the usual example. Security alerts and air traffic restrictions also count. Still, you keep the right to a refund or alternate travel.
In fact, the six-hour domestic clause is not expressly exempt in Wego’s reading, so ask the airline to apply it. If it refuses, escalate. To understand why fog cancels flights so often, read our explainer on CAT III landing and fog.
How to claim step by step
- Keep your ticket or boarding pass, the airline’s delay or cancellation message and every receipt.
- Ask at the airline counter what it is offering, and get the offer in writing or by message.
- File a complaint with the airline and note the complaint reference number.
- If it is unresolved, use the Nodal Officer or Appellate Authority named on the airline’s site.
- Then file on the AirSewa portal and attach your documents.
- As a last step, consider a consumer forum or court.
Mistakes that cost passengers money
First, many people accept a travel voucher on the spot. For denied boarding, the rules require cash or a bank transfer. A voucher is allowed only if you sign for it, so read before you agree. Second, passengers book through an agent and never give the airline a working email or phone number. Missing contact details may affect cancellation compensation, though not your right to a refund.
Third, people forget the rules changed. Refund rules were revised in February 2026 and took effect on 26 March 2026. They include a 48-hour look-in period for eligible direct bookings. They also require agents or portals to refund within 14 working days. Our guide to air ticket refund rules covers that in more detail.
Finally, remember that denied boarding has its own, higher scale. We explain it in denied boarding compensation India.
These figures come from a secondary summary. So confirm the current amounts in DGCA’s Civil Aviation Requirement before you quote them in a complaint. This is general information, not legal advice.
FAQ
Do I get money if my flight is only delayed?
Not a fixed cash amount. You get meals and refreshments from 2 hours of delay. Longer delays bring a refund, an alternate flight or a hotel stay, depending on the flight time and hour.
How much compensation do I get for a cancelled flight?
If the airline gave you less than 24 hours’ notice, you are owed a refund or alternate flight. You also get compensation of ₹5,000, ₹7,500 or ₹10,000 by flight length. The basic fare plus fuel charge applies instead if that is lower.
Where do I complain if the airline refuses?
Complain to the airline first and keep the reference number. If it is not resolved, file a complaint on the AirSewa portal.
