New Air Ticket Refund Rules 2026: 48-Hour Free Cancellation Explained

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) introduced a 'Look-in option' that allows passengers a 48-hour free cancellation and modification window. Effective from March 26, 2026, the new Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) offer mandatory refund of statutory taxes, including UDF, ADF, PSF, and other non-refundable and promo fares.

Here is the complete guideline of the new air ticket refund rules 2026.

What are the New Air Ticket Refund Rules 2026?

The DGCA has introduced a set of Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) to prioritise passenger rights. This comes after a massive surge in complaints regarding delayed refunds and hidden airline fees. Key rules include:

• Zero cancellation fees eliminate penalties for changes or cancellations within the first 48 hours.

• Credit card refunds are to be processed within seven days.

• If tickets are booked under any travel portal, the airline is now legally responsible for ensuring your refund within 14 working days.

• The refund cannot be credited as 'default' into a credit shell, as this will be a passenger's choice.

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How 48-Hour Free Cancellation Works: Step-By-Step Guide

• Ensure you cancel the tickets within 48 hours of booking.

• Cancel your tickets directly from the airline's official website. Presently, this rule does not mandate free cancellation from third-party apps.

• Select the 'Manage Booking' section to initiate the cancellation or amendment.

• Ensure that the system shows zero cancellation fees. In case of date change, pay only the fare difference.

• To get your refund, choose the original payment mode instead of the credit shell option.

Who Can Use The 48-hour Free Cancellation Rule?

The rules do not apply to last-minute bookings. However, here's a list of who can use the 48-hour free cancellation.

• Domestic travellers can cancel their tickets if their departure date is at least seven days from the booking date.

• International travellers can cancel their tickets if their departure is 15 days from the booking date.

• People who have booked from the airline's website.

• People can also make corrections in their names within 24 hours for free.

What If Airlines Refuse Free Cancellation?

If an airline refuses a free cancellation or levies more than the nominal fee within the 48-hour free cancellation window, or delays the refund beyond the mentioned days, you can take these steps:

• Directly quote the DGCA CAR about the issue.

• Lodge a complaint in the AirSewa portal.

• Tag the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the airline.

Note: Even after the 48-hour window, no airline can charge a cancellation fee higher than the basic and fuel charges.

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