Airlines will now be required to refund 75 percent of passengers’ ticket prices if their domestic flight tickets have been downgraded.
The DGCA has confirmed this news via a new set of rules.
Read on to find out all the details!
Airlines To Reimburse Passengers For Downgrading Their Tickets
Airlines will now be required to reimburse passengers who had their domestic flight tickets downgraded for 75% of the ticket price.
The reimbursement amount for downgrading international tickets will range from 30% to 75% of the ticket costs, including taxes, according to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) new regulations, depending on the specific flight’s distance.
In response to denied boarding, flight cancellations, and flight delays, the watchdog amended its Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) pertaining to facilities to be provided to passengers by airlines.
A senior DGCA official announced on Wednesday that the new rules would take effect on February 15.
In response to complaints from passengers that their airline tickets booked for a specific class were downgraded, the aviation regulator has decided to change the rules.
The watchdog organization suggested in December of last year that airlines be required to refund the full cost of such tickets, including taxes. Affected passengers should receive free flights in the next available class, it added.
However, the official stated that those suggestions have been changed to reflect “international practises.”
Passengers Will Reimburse Passengers Who Are Unintentionally Downgraded
The change will enable the airline to reimburse a passenger who is unintentionally downgraded and transported in a lower class than that for which the ticket was purchased “In a statement on Wednesday, the DGCA stated.
The airline will reimburse the passenger for the downgrade of a domestic flight ticket for 75% of the ticket’s total cost, including taxes.
For flights travelling 1,500 kilometres or less, a passenger will receive 30% of the cost of the ticket, including taxes, in the event that their international ticket is downgraded.
According to the statement, the payment will be 50% of the flight, which has a range of 1,500 to 3,500 kilometres.
For flights that are longer than 3,500 kilometres, 75% of the ticket price, including taxes, will be reimbursed. According to the regulator, the modifications were made to better protect the rights of air travellers whose tickets were downgraded.
