Air Passenger proposes zero ticket cancellation fee within 24 hours of booking
NEW DELHI : If an air passenger cancels their ticket within 24 hours of booking, and provided travel is to take place after 96 hours, then they could be allowed to do this without charge. This has been proposed in the draft Air Passenger Charter which has been put in public domain on Tuesday for public comments.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has placed the draft for public consultation for a period of 30 days and aims at notifying the final version within two months.The Ministry has also proposed that airlines not levy any additional charge for correcti on in name, if the error is pointed out within 24 hours of making a reservation, and provided the rectification is required for no more than three characters.
Unveiling Air Sewa, Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, said it is proposed that cancellation charges should not be more than basic fare and fuel surcharge. It is proposed that if a domestic airlines cancels a flight or delays for more than 4 hours then a passenger can seek full refund.
No additional charge for name correction, if restricted to three characters and made within 24 days of booking
In case of cancellation by airline two weeks to 24 hours before departure, airline will have to offer alternate flight
Passengers barred from boarding a flight because of over-booking will be eligible for a minimum compensation of ₹5,000
The proposal also lays down compensation norms for passengers, and recommends that in case a traveller is informed about a flight cancellation between two weeks to 24 hours before the flight, the airline must offer an alternate flight which departs within two hours of the scheduled departure time booked by the passenger or refund the ticket.
If the airline doesn’t inform the passenger about the cancellation atleast 24 hours before the scheduled departure time, the airline will have to refund the full value of the air ticket.Similarly, in case of delays communicated more than 24 hours before the scheduled departure, the airline will have to offer an option of full refund of ticket, if the delay is for more than four hours.
However, if the delay results in flight taking-off the next day, then the airline will have to offer a free hotel stay as well as taxi fare to and from the hotel. These norms will be applicable only if the delay is due to the fault of the airline and not if it is because of inclement weather conditions.
Passengers barred from boarding a flight because of over-booking will be eligible for a minimum compensation of ₹5,000 or more depending on the value of t he air ticket.In case of loss of baggage, the minimum compensation proposed is ₹3,000 a kg. If a baggage is delayed or damaged the airline is liable to pay ₹1,000 a kg.( With Agency Inputs ).
