Guaranteed killjoys or rotten luck—call them what you will but flight delays are an unfortunate reality of modern travel. According to FlightAware, an average of 30,000 flights were delayed every day globally in 2023, and the DGCA reported that nearly 5 lakh passengers were affected by interruptions to domestic flights as of January 2024. Truant weather, holiday traffic, or systemic failure—anything can cause these delays. When grounded, fliers are better off knowing what they are entitled to, from a free hotel stay to free airport lounge access, depending on the airline’s policy and the time of delay. The DGCA has standard rules for flight delays, and having some knowledge of the Passenger Charter by the Ministry of Civil Aviation can be helpful in getting your claims addressed.
Will the airlines book me another flight?
Under the DGCA rules, if your domestic flight is delayed by more than 6 hours, the airline should offer you an alternative flight or a full refund on your ticket. You wouldn’t need to re-book another flight, most airlines would handle the booking for you in such cases. For example, in case of delays of more than 2 hours or preponement of the flight by more than 1 hour, Indigo provides the customers with a full refund or re-booking onto an alternative IndiGo flight at no additional cost, subject to availability.
Will I have to wait at the airport forever?
The DGCA calculates delay in relation to a flight’s block time, which is airline jargon for the flight’s duration. So if a flight (with a block time of 2 hours 30 minutes or more) is delayed by 2 hours or more, or a flight (with a block time of 2 hours 30 minutes to 5 hours) is delayed by 3 hours or more, the airlines must provide you with free lounge access and refreshments. Delays of more than 24 hours or of more than 6 hours, in case of flights scheduled between 8pm to 3am, require that the airline provide you free hotel accommodation, of its own choosing, under the Passenger Charter by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. Head to the check-in counter at the airport for any assistance with the accommodation.
What happens if my connecting flight is delayed?
If both flights were booked with the same carrier, it should book you on the next available flight, without any additional charges. This isn’t the case if your connecting flight is under a different airline from the other flight. Then you have to rebook another flight yourself, following the specific regulations of the airline.
Will I get a refund if I cancel my flight even though it’s delayed?
If the airline can’t find you an alternative flight during a delay, and you cancel your booking to book with another airline, you won’t be entitled to a refund. You are entitled to a refund only when the airline has cancelled your flight or when it is not able to find you an alternative flight during a 6-hour delay.
When will I get my refund?
The refund is initiated by the airlines when the flight is cancelled and is usually processed within seven business days.
How can I complain if the airline does not fulfil its obligations during delays?
Airlines have help desks at the arrival and departure wings of airports to lodge complaints. In case of escalations, register grievances on the AirSewa portal or make a formal complaint with the DGCA or the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Are there exceptions to these redressals?
The Passenger Charter clearly absolves the airline of any obligations to fliers in case of a force majeure, defined as extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline’s control.
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