From March 26, 2026 the DGCA requires a 48-hour look-in period for tickets purchased directly on airline websites, permitting free cancellations or amendments provided the scheduled departure is at least seven days away for domestic flights and 15 days for international services.
Key regulatory changes at a glance
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation updated Civil Aviation Requirements on February 24, 2026 to standardize passenger protections. Major changes include:
- 48-hour free cancellation or amendment: No extra fee within 48 hours of booking if departure meets the minimum notice rule.
- Fare difference applies: If rebooking to a different flight, passengers must pay any higher fare.
- Name-correction rule: No charge for correcting the name of the same passenger if reported within 24 hours for bookings made on the airline website.
- Mandatory tax refunds: Airlines must refund all statutory taxes and passenger-related charges even when the base fare is non-refundable.
- Refund timelines: Faster processing targets for credit card, cash and agent-channel refunds.
Who can use the 48-hour look-in period?
The free cancellation window applies only to tickets bought directly from an airline’s official website. Bookings made through travel agents or third-party portals are subject to the agents’ booking terms, although airlines retain responsibility for refund processing when agents sell on their behalf.
Practical timeline summary
| Action | Deadline | Applicability |
|---|---|---|
| Free cancellation/amendment | Within 48 hours of booking | Booking on airline website; departure ≥ 7 days (domestic), ≥ 15 days (international) |
| Name correction without fee | Within 24 hours of booking | Booking on airline website |
| Refund via credit card | Within 7 days | All channels |
| Refund when booked via agent/portal | Within 14 working days | Airline responsible for refund |
| Cash payment refunds (at airline office) | Immediate at same location | Cash transactions at airline office |
Operational implications for airlines and airports
Airlines must update booking engines and back-office refund workflows to meet the stricter timelines. Reservation systems should flag tickets eligible for the 48-hour waiver automatically to reduce customer-service load at call centers and airport desks. At airports, check-in counters and service kiosks will need clear scripts to handle no-fee name corrections and immediate cash refunds.
Checklist for passengers
- Book directly on the airline website to benefit from the 48-hour look-in.
- Report name-entry errors within 24 hours to avoid fees.
- Allow up to seven days for credit-card refunds; expect immediate cash refunds at airline offices.
- Keep booking confirmation and payment receipts handy to expedite refunds.
Checklist for airlines and travel agents
- Implement automated flags for eligible bookings and rebooking fare-difference calculation.
- Ensure refund teams can process credit-card refunds within seven days and agent-related refunds within 14 working days.
- Publish clear, visible policy information on payment channels and name-correction procedures.
For travelers, these rules strengthen booking confidence: the ability to cancel or adjust plans within two days reduces cost risk when arranging complex itineraries, multi-leg connections, or bundled services like transfers and accommodation. Tour operators and tourism businesses should update package terms to reflect refundable taxes and faster consumer refunds.
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In summary, the DGCA’s update institutes a 48-hour free cancellation window for website bookings (domestic ≥7 days, international ≥15 days), makes name corrections free if reported within 24 hours, mandates refund of statutory taxes and passenger charges even for non-refundable fares, and enforces tighter refund timelines—seven days for card refunds, immediate for cash at office, and 14 working days where agents are involved. These changes improve booking flexibility and operational clarity for airlines and travellers, enhancing travel experiences and supporting better planning for adventure activities, cruise packages, safari tours, yacht parties, luxury adventure travel experiences, eco-friendly wildlife safaris, museum tours with live guides, online virtual tours, esports lessons and beginner esports coaching sessions, exclusive yacht charters for events, interactive workshops, and professional esports training programs.