Flight Disruptions in India: Know Your Rights and Get Compensated

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As India faces widespread flight disruptions, it's essential to understand the difference between airline policies and your actual legal rights under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) guidelines. Based on the 2019 Passenger Charter and the 2025 Ministry of Civil Aviation affirmations, here's what you need to know if your flight is delayed or cancelled. **Delayed Flight: What to Expect** If your flight is delayed, your rights depend on the length of the delay and the flight duration. If you've checked in on time, you're entitled to: * Free meals and refreshments if the delay is 2+ hours (for flights under 2.5 hours), 3+ hours (for flights between 2.5-5 hours), or 4+ hours (for flights over 5 hours). * Rescheduling or a full refund if the delay exceeds 6 hours. In this case, the airline must offer an alternate flight within 6 hours or a full refund of the ticket. **Overnight Delay: Do You Get a Room?** The rules differ based on the reason for the delay. Generally, airlines must provide free hotel accommodation and transfers if the delay is overnight or exceeds 24 hours. However, if the delay is caused by 'extraordinary circumstances' beyond their control (such as weather conditions, security risks, or natural disasters), airlines are not obliged to provide hotels or compensation. If you're denied a hotel, check if the airline cites 'weather' or 'operational reasons' as the cause. If it's the latter, you may be entitled to hotel accommodation under the CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV. **Cancelled Flight: Can You Claim Compensation?** If your flight is cancelled and you're not informed at least two weeks before the scheduled departure, you're entitled to financial compensation, in addition to a full refund. The compensation amounts depend on the flight duration: * Flights up to 1 hour: ₹5,000 (or basic fare + fuel charge, whichever is less). * Flights between 1 and 2 hours: ₹7,500 (or basic fare + fuel charge, whichever is less). * Flights longer than 2 hours: ₹10,000 (or basic fare + fuel charge, whichever is less). **Refund and Rebooking** If your flight is cancelled or delayed by more than 6 hours, you have the right to refuse the alternate flight offered by the airline and demand a full refund. The refund timeline varies depending on the payment method. **Baggage Liability** If your checked baggage is lost, delayed, or damaged, the airline's liability is limited to ₹20,000 per passenger for domestic flights and 1,131 SDR (approx. ₹1.2 Lakh) per passenger for international flights. **Reporting Complaints** If the airline rejects your claim, you can lodge a formal grievance through the AirSewa App/Portal or contact the DGCA nodal officer at major airports.