New Delhi:
Air India has decided not to charge cancellation fee from its passengers from May 1 this year. Isn’t this a good news? If a passenger wants to cancel his or her air ticket or make changes in it within 24 hours of booking, he or she will not be charged any fee. However, this facility will be available only if the flight is scheduled at least seven days after the booking date.
On February 27, Indian aviation regulator DGCA had issued a "passenger charter" which specified the rights of air travellers. One of the provisions in the passenger charter has been implemented by the national carrier through the aforementioned decision that will come into effect from May 1.
On April 24, Air India's Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) issued a circular and said, "It has been decided that for sale and travel, effective May 1, 2019, all domestic tickets will have the free look-in option for change and cancellation as prescribed by the DGCA."
"The passenger has an option of cancelling or amending the ticket without any additional charges, that is cancellation or change fee is not applicable, when the same is done within 24 hours of ticketing," the circular added.
According to the circular, the normal prevailing fare and the related fare conditions on a particular flight - for which the ticket is being sought - will be applicable.
Moreover, the circular stated that the facility "shall not be available for a flight whose departure is scheduled less than seven days from the booking date". "Beyond 24 hours of initial booking time, this option is not available and the passenger has to pay the relevant cancellation/change fees for amendment," it concluded.
Air India spokesperson Dhananjay Kumar on Friday told TOI that under the new policy of the Union government, the passengers of domestic circuit can avail the option of either cancelling or amending their tickets without any additional charge for flights booked for departure after seven days from the date of booking.
