Aviation regulator DGCA is preparing to introduce new rules and passengers will soon be compensated for any involuntary downgrade of their tickets for a particular class by an airline. As per the DGCA, once the rule comes into effect, the airline concerned will have to refund the full value of such tickets, including taxes, and also fly the affected passenger free of charge in the next available class. Against the backdrop of complaints from air travelers regarding their tickets booked by airlines for a particular class, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is now in the process of amending the existing rules to address the grievances of passengers.
For example, when a passenger who has booked his/her ticket on first class, business class or premium economy gets downgraded to a lower class at the time of check-in due to various reasons like unusable seats, change of aircraft, overbooking, etc. So this amendment will allow a passenger, who is involuntarily downgraded from his booked class of ticket, to get the full value of the ticket as a refund from the airline and the airline will move the passenger to the next available class free of charge .
The DGCA is in the process of amending its Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR), which deals with ‘facilities to be provided by airlines to passengers on account of denial of boarding, cancellation of flights and delay in flights’. ticket, it added. At present, there is a provision to provide compensation to air passengers in case of denial of boarding and cancellation of flight. For denied boarding, a passenger is entitled to various compensations depending on the situation.
If the airline is overbooked, it may demand volunteers in exchange for benefits. If an airline has denied boarding to a passenger with a confirmed booking, no compensation will be paid provided the airline concerned arranges an alternate flight within one hour of the originally scheduled departure.
If the alternate flight is within 24 hours of the original departure, a passenger will have to pay 200 per cent of the one-way fare and fuel charges, subject to a maximum of Rs 10,000. The compensation will be 400 per cent of the one-way fare and fuel charges and the total amount will be limited to Rs 20,000 in case of an alternate flight after 24 hours of the original departure.
denied boarding
|
Sl.No. |
landscape | Compensation |
| 1 |
If the airline has overbooked the flight |
The airline will ask for volunteers in exchange for benefits |
| 2 |
If the airline has denied boarding to a passenger against a confirmed booking for travel on a flight |
No compensation if the airline arranges an alternate flight within 1 hour of the original departure |
| 3 | If the airline has denied boarding to a passenger against a confirmed booking for travel on a flight |
Compensation if alternate flight is within 24 hours of original departure: 200% of one way fare + fuel charges (Max Rs.10,000/-) Compensation if alternate flight after 24 hours of original departure: 400% of one way fare + fuel charges (Max Rs.20,000/-) |
Flight Canceled*
|
Sl.No. |
landscape |
Compensation |
| 1 |
If the airline expects to cancel the flight |
The airline must inform and arrange an alternate flight at least two weeks in advance |
| 2 |
If the airline cancels a flight less than two weeks in advance and up to 24 hours after the booked flight
|
The airline will arrange an alternate flight or refund the ticket within 2 hours of the original departure. |
| 3 |
If the airline cancels a flight less than 24 hours after the booked flight |
Airlines to refund air tickets and provide compensation as follows: Block time < 1 hour: One way fare + fuel charges (Max Rs. 5,000/-)
|
* No obligation in case of force majeure.
with PTI inputs