Indian flyers in the air now have more freedom as they book tickets. The nation’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has issued new rules to allow passengers to cancel or modify their tickets within 48 hours of booking without incurring extra costs. The move, starting March 26, 2026, will make air travel easier to navigate for passengers and stress‑free for sudden changes of plans.
Passengers can cancel their tickets or change them within 48 hours of booking, without incurring cancellation or amendment fees in the new guidelines. The fare difference is all that it would cost a traveler to switch to a different flight, if necessary. This avoids any adverse consequences for passengers who change the itinerary soon after booking their flight.
The rule does come with its own checks on fairness:
- For domestic flights, the cancellation or amendment for free works only if the departure is at least 7 days away.
- For international flights, departure must be at least 15 days away.
- Minor name corrections are permitted within 24 hours of booking, with this exception for tickets purchased directly with an airline.
- And even though tickets are purchased, refunds must be processed within 14 working days.
Cancellation and amendment fees used to differ widely among the airlines, often at steep levels. This discouraged passengers from changing something, even when changes were justified. A new rule provides travelers with a sense of peace of mind, by knowing they can recalibrate their bookings without incurring financial penalties. It also means more transparency and congruence across carriers.
- Flexibility: Travellers can purchase tickets early and not have to worry about unexpected changes.
- Cost Savings: No additional fees for cancelled flights or modified flights in that 48‑hour window which does not expire.
- Transparency: No airlines have to use confusing rules.
- Ease: The process becomes smoother with faster refunds and easier corrections.
The 48‑hour ticket rule offered this year is a major move to make domestic air travel more friendly for passengers since DGCA has introduced new rules. After all, with new regulations and opportunities in play on cancellations and amendments to the travel rules with no penalties applied, carriers can offer the traveller a new degree of control over his travel plan. For millions of flyers, this transformation translates into less stress, more flexibility, and a much more seamless travel experience.
