As much as you would like, a smooth travel experience is not a guarantee if you are flying to your destination. Flight delays and cancellations are a part and parcel of travel, and the best you can do to not bear a big brunt of it is to buy a refundable ticket and get travel insurance. That’s the only thing in your hands that you can control. But when there are last-minute delays and cancellations by the airlines, there are certain things that you, as a passenger, are eligible for, including monetary compensation and a free stay at a hotel.
According to the Hindustan Times, in November 2023, 2.69 lakh passengers were compensated by airlines for delays, and nearly 40,000 passengers were compensated for cancelled flights. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has provided specific Civil Aviation Regulations that you should be aware of if you’re dealing with a delayed or cancelled domestic flight.
If your flight is delayed
Flight delays can be frustrating, but as a passenger, you can adhere to your rights. According to DGCA, here are a few things that you are entitled to:
If you have checked in on time, but the airline expects a delay of 2 to 4 hours, then you’re entitled to a free meal and refreshments during your wait period. If you’re flying by IndiGo Airlines and your flight is delayed for more than 2 hours or is preponed by more than an hour, then you can either get a full refund or re-booking onto an alternative IndiGo flight at no additional cost, depending on the availability.
If your domestic flight is delayed by more than 6 hours, then ideally, the airline should communicate the rescheduled time more than 24 hours before your original time of departure. You also have the option of asking for an alternative flight within 6 hours or demanding a full refund on your ticket.
Another scenario where you are entitled to a free stay is when the airline communicates your flight delay more than 24 hours before your original time of departure, and when the delay is more than 24 hours or 6 hours for flights scheduled between 8 pm and 3 am. However, the choice of the hotel is up to the airline.
If your flight is cancelled
In an ideal scenario, the airline must inform you of the flight cancellation at least two weeks before the scheduled time of departure. If you are informed of the flight cancellation less than two weeks before, but up to 24 hours before the scheduled departure time, then the airline is liable to arrange alternate flights or offer a refund.
If you are not informed as per the above provisions, or for some reason have missed the connecting flight booked on the same ticket number, then the airline should either provide an alternate flight that works for you or compensate, in addition to providing you with a full refund.
How much compensation can you get?
If you are dealing with the mess of a cancelled flight, then here’s the compensation you are eligible for:
