Flight Cancel, Overbooking ya Delay? DGCA Compensation Kitna Milega — ₹5,000 se ₹20,000 Tak (2026)
Flight 24 ghante se kam pehle cancel hui ya overbooking mein boarding nahi mili? DGCA niyam: refund ke saath ₹5,000–₹20,000 tak compensation. Hisaab, delay ke haq aur claim letter.
By Anil Bhutia · Founder, Nyaykar · not a lawyer · How we check facts
In this article (10)
Flight 24 ghante se kam pehle cancel hui, ya overbooking ki wajah se aapko boarding se mana kiya gaya? DGCA ke niyam (CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV) ke hisaab se airline ko poore ticket refund ke saath compensation dena hota hai: cancellation par block time ke hisaab se ₹5,000 / ₹7,500 / ₹10,000 tak, aur denied boarding par ₹20,000 tak. Delay mein cash compensation nahi, lekin khana, hotel ya refund ka haq hai. Pehle airline ko likhit claim, phir AirSewa (airsewa.gov.in) — free, aur zaroorat ho to Consumer Commission.
Flight cancel hone par kitna compensation milta hai?
Compensation tab banta hai jab airline ne cancellation ki khabar 24 ghante se kam pehle di (ya di hi nahi), ya aapki connecting flight same ticket par cancellation ki wajah se chhooti — aur airline ne aapko aisi alternate flight nahi di jo aapko manzoor ho. Tab poore ticket refund ke saath yeh raashi milti hai:
| Flight ka block time | Compensation (refund ke alawa) |
|---|---|
| 1 ghante tak | ₹5,000 ya one-way basic fare + airline fuel charge — jo kam ho |
| 1 se 2 ghante tak | ₹7,500 ya one-way basic fare + airline fuel charge — jo kam ho |
| 2 ghante se zyada | ₹10,000 ya one-way basic fare + airline fuel charge — jo kam ho |
Source: DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV, para 3.3.2 — DGCA ki website (dgca.gov.in) par Civil Aviation Requirements section mein.
Block time woh samay hai jab plane pehli baar take-off ke liye chalta hai, tab se jab tak manzil par poori tarah ruk nahi jaata. Yeh aapke ticket ya airline ke schedule mein flight duration ke roop mein dikhta hai.
Cancellation ki khabar kab mili, isse sab badalta hai:
| Khabar kab mili | Aapka haq |
|---|---|
| Departure se 2 hafte ya zyada pehle | Alternate flight ya refund — jo aapko manzoor ho |
| 2 hafte se kam, lekin 24 ghante se zyada pehle | Alternate flight ya poora refund — compensation nahi |
| 24 ghante se kam pehle, ya khabar hi nahi | Manzoor alternate flight, ya poora refund + upar ki table wala compensation. Airport par pahunch chuke the to intezaar mein khana-paani bhi |
Source: DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV, paras 3.3.1–3.3.2.
Compensation ka hisaab kaise lagayein? 4 udaharan
Neeche ke hisaab CAR ke niyam se nikale gaye hain — airline ko "₹10,000 tak" nahi, chhoti wali raashi deni hoti hai: slab ya aapka basic fare + fuel charge. Maan lijiye sabhi flights departure se 24 ghante ke andar cancel hui aur aapne alternate flight nahi li:
| Udaharan | Block time | Basic fare + fuel charge | Slab | Banta compensation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chhoti flight | 55 minute | ₹3,200 | ₹5,000 | ₹3,200 + poora refund |
| Medium flight | 1 ghanta 45 minute | ₹6,800 | ₹7,500 | ₹6,800 + poora refund |
| Lambi flight, sasta ticket | 2 ghante 5 minute | ₹6,200 | ₹10,000 | ₹6,200 + poora refund |
| Lambi flight, mehenga ticket | 2 ghante 50 minute | ₹14,500 | ₹10,000 | ₹10,000 + poora refund |
Dhyan dijiye: "basic fare + airline fuel charge" mein taxes aur airport fees (UDF, PSF) nahi gine jaate — woh refund mein wapas aate hain, compensation ke hisaab mein nahi. Apne ticket ke fare breakup mein base fare aur fuel charge (agar alag likha ho) dekhiye.
Overbooking mein boarding se mana kiya — kitna milega?
Overbooking mein airline pehle volunteers maangti hai jo apni seat chhod dein — unhe airline apni marzi se jo offer kare, woh milta hai. Agar aapne seat chhodne se mana kiya aur phir bhi aapko boarding nahi di gayi (aap samay par pahunche, ticket confirm tha), to yeh denied boarding hai:
| Airline ne kya kiya | Compensation |
|---|---|
| 1 ghante ke andar jaane wali alternate flight di | Kuch nahi |
| 24 ghante ke andar jaane wali alternate flight di | One-way basic fare + fuel charge ka 200%, zyada se zyada ₹10,000 |
| 24 ghante ke baad wali alternate flight di | One-way basic fare + fuel charge ka 400%, zyada se zyada ₹20,000 |
| Aapne alternate flight nahi li | Poora ticket refund + basic fare + fuel charge ka 400%, zyada se zyada ₹20,000 |
Source: DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV, para 3.2.2 — DGCA ki website (dgca.gov.in) par.
Udaharan, isi niyam se ginkar (basic fare + fuel charge ₹4,000):
| Alternate flight kab | Hisaab | Banta compensation |
|---|---|---|
| 45 minute baad | 1 ghante ke andar | ₹0 |
| 5 ghante baad | 200% = ₹8,000 (₹10,000 se kam) | ₹8,000 |
| 30 ghante baad | 400% = ₹16,000 (₹20,000 se kam) | ₹16,000 |
| Nahi li, fare ₹7,000 tha | 400% = ₹28,000, lekin seema ₹20,000 | ₹20,000 + poora refund |
Source: in udaharanon ka hisaab DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV, para 3.2.2 ke 200%/400% niyam aur ₹10,000/₹20,000 ki seema se.
Connecting flight par: agar pehli flight par boarding se mana hua aur aap aakhri manzil par 3 ghante ya zyada der se pahunche, to pehli flight wali airline compensation degi (para 3.2.3).
Flight delay hone par kya milta hai?
Delay mein CAR cash compensation nahi deta — lekin airline ko yeh suvidhayein free deni hoti hain, agar aapne samay par check-in kiya tha:
| Delay kitna | Airline kya degi |
|---|---|
| 2 ghante ya zyada (block time 2½ ghante tak wali flight) | Khana aur refreshments |
| 3 ghante ya zyada (block time 2½ se 5 ghante) | Khana aur refreshments |
| 4 ghante ya zyada (baaki flights) | Khana aur refreshments |
| Domestic flight 6 ghante se zyada (schedule time se, ya 24 ghante se pehle bataye gaye naye time se) | 6 ghante ke andar alternate flight, ya poora refund — aapki choice |
| 24 ghante se zyada, ya 6 ghante se zyada jab flight raat 8 se subah 3 ke beech thi | Hotel (aane-jaane ke saath) |
Source: DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV, paras 3.4.1–3.4.3 aur 3.7.1.
Delay ki khabar aapko kab di gayi, yeh sabit karne ki zimmedari airline ki hai, aapki nahi (para 3.4.5). Lekin agar delay ki wajah se aapka koi asli nuksaan hua — jaise aage ka non-refundable hotel ya connecting ticket — to woh paisa CAR se nahi, Consumer Commission mein deficiency in service (Consumer Protection Act 2019, Section 2(11)) ke roop mein maanga jaata hai.
Kab compensation nahi milta?
Airline in cases mein CAR ka compensation dene ke liye baadhya nahi hai:
- Force majeure — jaise prakritik aapda, political instability, dange, hadtaal, ya sarkar ka koi aadesh jo plane ko roke (para 1.4).
- Mausam, Air Traffic Control (ATC) ya security risk ki wajah se cancellation/delay (para 1.5).
- Booking ke waqt aapne phone number ya email nahi diya tha — tab financial compensation nahi banta, sirf refund ya alternate flight (para 3.3.3). Travel agent se ticket li ho to dekhiye ki unhone airline ko aapka number diya ya nahi.
In cases mein bhi refund ka haq khatam nahi hota — ticket refund ke niyam alag CAR (Section 3, Series M, Part II) mein hain, jinke hisaab se credit card refund 7 din aur agent/portal booking ka refund 14 working days mein aana chahiye. Force majeure ka bahana sahi hai ya nahi, iska faisla airline akeli nahi karti — aapko lagta hai wajah galat batayi gayi, to AirSewa ya Consumer Commission mein yeh sawaal uthaya ja sakta hai.
Voucher lena zaroori hai kya? Aur cabin downgrade par kitna milta hai?
Voucher zaroori nahi. CAR ke hisaab se compensation cash, bank transfer, ya sirf aapki likhit sahmati se travel voucher ke roop mein diya ja sakta hai (para 3.6.1). Airline seedha voucher thama de to aap bank transfer maang sakte hain.
Involuntary downgrade (aapne business/premium liya, airline ne economy mein bitha diya) par 15 February 2023 se lagu niyam:
| Flight | Wapas milne wali raashi |
|---|---|
| Domestic | Ticket ki keemat (taxes samet) ka 75% |
| International, 1,500 km tak | 30% |
| International, 1,500–3,500 km | 50% |
| International, 3,500 km se zyada | 75% |
Source: DGCA ka CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV mein February 2023 ka sanshodhan (15 February 2023 se lagu), jaisa us samay ki news reports mein chhapa. Udaharan: domestic downgrade, ticket ₹18,000 (taxes samet) → ₹13,500 wapas.
Videshi airlines (India aane-jaane wali) par compensation unke apne desh ke niyam se, ya is CAR ke hisaab se diya jaata hai (para 3.5.1).
Compensation claim kaise karein — step by step?
- Saboot sambhaliye — e-ticket (PNR), cancellation ya delay ka SMS/email (time ke saath), boarding pass ya check-in ka saboot, denied boarding hui to gate par mili parchi, aur fare breakup.
- Airline ko likhit claim bhejiye — airline ki website par refund/compensation form, ya grievance email. CAR ke hisaab se har complaint ko ek unique reference number milna chahiye (para 3.9.5) — woh zaroor rakhiye.
- Nodal Officer, phir Appellate Authority — har airline ko inhe appoint karke website par details deni hoti hain (para 3.9.4). Pehla jawab theek na lage to inhe likhiye.
- AirSewa par grievance — airsewa.gov.in ya AirSewa app par, free. CAR khud yeh rasta batata hai (para 3.8.2). AirSewa complaint ko airline tak pahunchata aur track karta hai, lekin binding order nahi deta.
- Consumer Commission — airline phir bhi na de to District Consumer Commission mein e-jagriti.gov.in par complaint: refund, CAR compensation aur nuksaan ka harjana. Samay-seema cause of action se 2 saal (Consumer Protection Act 2019, Section 69). ₹5 lakh tak ke claim par court fee nil hai. Salah ke liye National Consumer Helpline 1915 ya consumerhelpline.gov.in.
Airline ko compensation claim letter ka format kya hai?
Yeh letter copy kijiye, brackets mein apni jaankari bhariye, aur airline ki grievance email ya compensation form ke saath bhejiye:
To, The Nodal Officer / Grievance Officer, [Airline ka naam]
Subject: Claim for refund and compensation under DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV — PNR [XXXXXX], Flight [6E/AI/QP/SG ____] dated [DD-MM-YYYY]
Sir/Madam,
- I held a confirmed ticket, PNR [XXXXXX], on flight [number] from [city] to [city] scheduled to depart on [date] at [time]. Booking contact (mobile/email) was provided at the time of booking.
- [Cancellation: I was informed of the cancellation on [date, time], i.e. less than 24 hours before departure. / I was not informed of the cancellation.] [Denied boarding: I reported for boarding on time and was denied boarding against my will; I did not volunteer to give up my seat.]
- I [did not accept an alternate flight / was offered an alternate flight departing on [date, time]].
- The block time of the flight is [__ hours __ minutes] and the one-way basic fare plus airline fuel charge is ₹[____].
Under para [3.3.2 / 3.2.2] of DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV, I request (a) a full refund of ₹[ticket amount], and (b) compensation of ₹[amount], paid by bank transfer to the account below. I do not consent to a travel voucher in place of cash compensation.
If this is not resolved within 30 days, I will file a grievance on AirSewa and approach the District Consumer Commission.
Attached: e-ticket, cancellation/denied-boarding message, fare breakup, boarding pass/check-in proof.
Yours faithfully, [Naam], [Mobile], [Email] [Bank account no., IFSC — compensation ke liye] Date: [DD-MM-YYYY]
Log flight compensation mein kya galti karte hain?
- Refund lekar maamla band samajh lena — 24 ghante se kam notice par cancellation mein refund ke saath compensation alag se banta hai.
- Bina soche voucher le lena — voucher ke liye aapki sahmati chahiye. Cash ya bank transfer maangiye.
- Gate par seat "volunteer" kar dena — volunteer ko sirf woh milta hai jo airline offer kare; denied boarding wala compensation (upar ki table) sirf un par lagta hai jinhe unki marzi ke khilaf roka gaya.
- Sirf call karna — phone par diya complaint saboot nahi banta. Likhit claim aur reference number lijiye.
- Agent se booking mein apna number na dena — contact details na hone par compensation ka haq ruk sakta hai (para 3.3.3).
Nyaykar is complaint mein kaise madad karta hai?
Nyaykar par Hindi, English ya Hinglish mein bataiye ki kya hua — tool batata hai ki complaint kahan jaani chahiye (airline ka grievance cell, AirSewa ya Consumer Commission) aur aap samay-seema ke andar hain ya nahi. Yeh case check free hai, aur aap letter ka shuruaati hissa preview mein dekh sakte hain. Poora formal complaint letter (PDF ke saath) ₹49 mein 2 poore letters wale Letter Pack se unlock hota hai — dusra letter kisi aur complaint ya RTI ke liye kaam aata hai, jaise airline ne paisa na diya to Consumer Commission complaint. Nyaykar aapki taraf se kahin complaint file nahi karta — submit aap khud karte hain.
Nyaykar par apna flight complaint case free check karein
Aage ke steps ke liye yeh guides bhi padhein:
- DGCA complaint email aur AirSewa portal par flight refund kaise kare
- Consumer court mein complaint kaise file kare
Disclaimer: Nyaykar is not a law firm and this article is AI-assisted guidance, not legal advice. Verify all details and current rules before acting. For complex matters, consult a qualified consumer advocate.
Frequently asked questions
- Flight cancel hone par airline kitna compensation deti hai?
- Agar airline ne 24 ghante se kam pehle cancellation batayi aur aapne alternate flight nahi li, to poore refund ke saath compensation banta hai: block time 1 ghante tak ₹5,000, 1–2 ghante ₹7,500, 2 ghante se zyada ₹10,000 — ya aapka one-way basic fare + fuel charge, jo kam ho (DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV, para 3.3.2).
- Overbooking mein boarding nahi mili to kitna milega?
- Agar aapne seat chhodne ke liye volunteer nahi kiya: alternate flight 1 ghante ke andar ho to kuch nahi; 24 ghante ke andar ho to basic fare + fuel charge ka do guna, zyada se zyada ₹10,000; usse baad ho ya aapne alternate na li to chaar guna, zyada se zyada ₹20,000 (DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV, para 3.2.2).
- Flight delay hone par cash compensation milta hai kya?
- DGCA ka CAR delay par cash compensation nahi deta. Delay ke hisaab se airline ko khana-refreshments, domestic flight mein 6 ghante se zyada delay par alternate flight ya poora refund, aur lambe ya raat ke delay mein hotel dena hota hai. Delay se hua asli nuksaan Consumer Commission mein maanga ja sakta hai.
- Kya airline compensation ki jagah voucher de sakti hai?
- Sirf aapki likhit sahmati se. DGCA CAR ke para 3.6.1 ke hisaab se compensation cash, bank transfer ya — passenger ki signed agreement ke saath — travel voucher mein diya ja sakta hai. Aap bank transfer maang sakte hain.
- Mausam ya ATC ki wajah se flight cancel hui to compensation milega?
- Nahi. Mausam, Air Traffic Control, security risk aur force majeure jaisi wajahon par airline CAR ka compensation dene ke liye baadhya nahi hai. Lekin ticket ka refund phir bhi banta hai, aur agar aapko lagta hai wajah galat batayi gayi, to AirSewa ya Consumer Commission mein sawaal uthaya ja sakta hai.
- Flight compensation ki complaint kahan karein?
- Pehle airline ko likhit claim (reference number lijiye), phir airline ke Nodal Officer aur Appellate Authority. Na mile to airsewa.gov.in par free grievance. Phir bhi na mile to District Consumer Commission mein e-jagriti.gov.in par, cause of action se 2 saal ke andar.
- Business class se economy mein bitha diya, kitna wapas milega?
- February 2023 ke DGCA niyam ke hisaab se domestic flight par ticket ki keemat (taxes samet) ka 75% wapas milta hai. International flights par doori ke hisaab se 30% (1,500 km tak), 50% (1,500–3,500 km) ya 75% (3,500 km se zyada) — source: DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV ka 2023 sanshodhan.
Official sources linked in this article
Related posts
Disclaimer: This article is for guidance only. Nyaykar.in is not a law firm. Verify details before acting on this information. For complex matters, consult a qualified consumer advocate.