ⓘ Verified 16 May 2026 from official Air India sources.
Cancellation rules change frequently — always confirm at
Air India website before cancelling.
DGCA passenger rights (India): Under DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR Section 3, Series M, Part II),
passengers on Indian carriers are entitled to a full refund (including statutory taxes) within
7 working days for credit-card bookings and 20 working days for cash bookings when
the airline cancels or significantly reschedules a flight. For voluntary cancellations, statutory government taxes
(PSF, UDF, GST on taxes) remain refundable on request even on non-refundable fare classes.
Air India Cancellation Charges by Time to Departure
Cancellation fees on Air India are charged per passenger and depend on how many hours remain before departure when you cancel. The charges below summarise the airline's published policy for domestic and international flights. Always check fare conditions at booking, as deeply-discounted promo fares may be more restrictive than the standard cancellation slabs.
| When You Cancel | Domestic | International |
|---|---|---|
| More than 48 hours before departure | Value ₹4,000 • Classic ₹2,000 • Flex Free Air India splits at the 72-hour mark — these are the >72 hr slabs. Value cancellation forfeits the fare and refunds taxes only; Classic deducts ₹2,000; Flex is fully refundable. | Varies by region — verify in your booking Gulf / SE Asia Classic Economy: roughly USD 75-125. Europe / North America Classic Economy: roughly USD 150-200. Flex Economy: ₹0 or low (>48h). Value: non-refundable. Confirm exact amount at airindia.com/in/en/book/smart-fares.html. |
| Between 24 and 48 hours | Value ₹4,000 • Classic ₹3,500 • Flex Free Inside 72 hours — Classic rises to ₹3,500. Premium Economy and Business follow same >72/<72 split with their own slabs. | Varies by region — verify in your booking Inside 48 hr fees rise. Classic Economy roughly USD 150-250. Premium Economy / Business proportionally higher. Codeshare on Star Alliance partners follows operating-carrier rules. |
| Between 4 and 24 hours | Value ₹4,000 • Classic ₹3,500 • Flex Free Same <72 hr slab applies. Refund processed within 7-10 business days (Air India press release) to original payment method. GST: 5% on cancellation fee for Economy, 12% for Premium Economy/Business/First. | Varies by region — verify in your booking Inside 24 hr is the most restrictive slab — close-in fees typically 20-30% of fare paid for Classic Economy. Always cancel before T-2 hr to retain at least the tax refund. |
| Less than 4 hours / no-show | No-show (T-2 hr cutoff) Air India no-show window starts 2 hours before scheduled departure. Inside this window: refund and change are NOT permitted — entire fare and YQ are forfeited. Only statutory taxes refundable on request. | No-show (T-2 hr cutoff) Inside the 2-hour no-show window on international: base fare and YQ forfeited, only statutory taxes refundable. Star Alliance partner segments may have different no-show windows — check operating carrier rules. |
When Will I Get My Air India Refund?
Refund Timeline
Once your Air India cancellation is confirmed, the refund (after deducting cancellation charges) is processed to your original mode of payment. Credit-card refunds typically appear faster than bank transfers or wallet credits.
Refund processed within 7-10 business days per Air India press release (2-3 days airline + 2-3 days bank). DGCA SLA: 7 business days for card refunds, 20 business days for cash/cheque. You can claim refund up to 2 years from ticket issuance.
Air India Rescheduling Charges — Change Your Flight Instead
Rescheduling (also called "date change") is usually cheaper than cancelling and rebooking. If your travel dates have moved but you still want to fly with Air India, change the date instead of cancelling — you only pay the rescheduling fee plus any fare difference.
Domestic Reschedule
Value: ₹3,000 (flat). Classic: ₹300 (>72 hr) / ₹1,000 (<72 hr). Flex: Free anytime. Plus fare difference. Free re-booking permitted within the DGCA 24-hour rule if departure is at least 7 days away.
International Reschedule
Premium Economy Classic: Free (>72 hr) / ₹5,000 (<72 hr). Business Classic: Free (>72 hr) / smaller fee (<72 hr). Flex tiers: Free anytime + fare difference. Star Alliance codeshare on partner metal follows operating-carrier rules.
Air India No-Show Policy — What If I Miss My Flight?
No-Show Rule
Air India defines no-show as failing to change or cancel a booking at least 2 hours before scheduled departure. Inside the no-show window, refund and change are not permitted across any cabin or fare type; the entire base fare and fuel surcharge (YQ) are forfeited and only statutory taxes are refundable on request via airindia.com.
Pro tip: If you know you cannot make the flight, cancel online before departure — even a last-minute cancellation usually preserves more value than a no-show. Statutory taxes (PSF, UDF, GST on taxes) are always refundable on request, even on no-show bookings.
Which Air India Fares Are Non-Refundable?
Non-Refundable / Restricted Fares
- Economy Value (non-refundable cabin-bag-only fare — only statutory taxes returned, change against ₹3,000 fee permitted)
- Tickets cancelled inside the 2-hour no-show window (any fare class)
- Reward / Maharaja Club point-redemption tickets follow programme-specific rules
- Star Alliance codeshare segments — operating carrier rules apply
Note: even on non-refundable fares, statutory government taxes are refundable on request. The fare component is forfeited but PSF, UDF, and GST on taxes can be claimed back.
Air India Fare Lock / Hold Option
Hold the Fare Before Cancelling
Air India does not currently advertise a standalone fare-hold product on airindia.com — pricing is locked once booked.
How to Cancel Your Air India Ticket — Step by Step
- Visit www.airindia.com or open the HappyFares My Bookings page on happyfares.in.
- Enter your 6-character PNR (booking reference) and the lead passenger's last name.
- Click "Cancel Booking" and select the passengers and segments you want to cancel.
- Review the cancellation charges shown on screen against the time-to-departure brackets above.
- Confirm the cancellation — you will receive an email acknowledgement with a cancellation reference.
- Refund is processed in Refund processed within 7-10 business days per Air India press release (2-3 days airline + 2-3 days bank). DGCA SLA: 7 business days for card refunds, 20 business days for cash/cheque. You can claim refund up to 2 years from ticket issuance. to your original mode of payment.
Where Can I Cancel My Air India Booking?
Cancellation Channels
- airindia.com (Manage My Booking)
- Air India mobile app
- HappyFares My Bookings
- Air India customer care: 0124-264 1407
- Air India city booking / ticketing offices
DGCA Passenger Rights — What If Air India Cancels My Flight?
DGCA CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV — Indian carriers
Under the DGCA's Civil Aviation Requirements, if Air India cancels your flight or makes a schedule change of more than 2 hours without offering a viable alternative, you are entitled to:
- A full refund of the ticket (including all fare components and taxes), processed within 7 working days; OR
- An alternate flight on the same airline at no extra cost (subject to availability); OR
- Compensation of ₹5,000–10,000 plus refund/alternate flight, depending on flight duration, if cancellation is at the airline's discretion (not weather/force majeure).
Force majeure exception: Bad weather, ATC restrictions, security situations and similar unavoidable circumstances are treated as force majeure — only refund or alternate flight applies, no cash compensation. Always retain your boarding pass and any communication from Air India.
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Air India Cancellation — Frequently Asked Questions
Air India allows ticket cancellation up to flight departure time, with cancellation charges that increase as you get closer to departure. The earliest bracket (more than 48 hours before departure) carries the lowest fee at Value ₹4,000 • Classic ₹2,000 • Flex Free for domestic and Varies by region — verify in your booking for international. Cancellation closer to departure attracts higher fees, and a no-show forfeits the entire fare on most fare classes. Statutory taxes are always refundable on request.
Yes. Under DGCA rules and Air India's 24-hour Look-In window, you can cancel or reschedule your ticket free of charge within 24 hours of booking, provided the scheduled departure is at least 7 days away (domestic) or 15 days away (international). Any fare difference on rescheduling is still payable. After this 24-hour window, standard cancellation fees apply.
Air India cancellation charges depend on time-to-departure and route. For domestic flights: Value ₹4,000 • Classic ₹2,000 • Flex Free more than 48 hours out, Value ₹4,000 • Classic ₹3,500 • Flex Free between 24-48 hours, and Value ₹4,000 • Classic ₹3,500 • Flex Free between 4-24 hours. International flights: Varies by region — verify in your booking more than 48 hours out, scaling up to Varies by region — verify in your booking closer to departure. Less than 4 hours before departure typically forfeits the full fare.
You can cancel your Air India ticket online at www.airindia.com (Manage Booking), through the Air India mobile app, or via HappyFares My Bookings if you booked on HappyFares. Enter your PNR and last name, select "Cancel Booking", review the charges, and confirm. You will receive an email acknowledgement, and the refund is processed in Refund processed within 7-10 business days per Air India press release (2-3 days airline + 2-3 days bank). DGCA SLA: 7 business days for card refunds, 20 business days for cash/cheque. You can claim refund up to 2 years from ticket issuance. to your original mode of payment.
Air India processes cancellation refunds in Refund processed within 7-10 business days per Air India press release (2-3 days airline + 2-3 days bank). DGCA SLA: 7 business days for card refunds, 20 business days for cash/cheque. You can claim refund up to 2 years from ticket issuance.. Credit-card refunds typically reflect faster than bank transfers or wallet credits. The refund goes to your original mode of payment (not as voucher/credit unless you specifically choose that option). If your refund is delayed beyond the published timeline, contact Air India customer care at 0124-264 1407 with your cancellation reference number.
Most Air India tickets are refundable subject to the cancellation charges shown in the table above. However, the following fare classes are non-refundable except for statutory taxes: Economy Value (non-refundable cabin-bag-only fare — only statutory taxes returned, change against ₹3,000 fee permitted), Tickets cancelled inside the 2-hour no-show window (any fare class), Reward / Maharaja Club point-redemption tickets follow programme-specific rules, Star Alliance codeshare segments — operating carrier rules apply. Always check fare conditions at the time of booking — promotional and deeply-discounted fares are usually the most restrictive. Even on non-refundable fares, you can claim back PSF, UDF, and GST on taxes on request.
If Air India cancels your flight, the DGCA's Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV) entitle you to a full refund within 7 working days, or an alternate flight at no extra cost, or compensation of ₹5,000-10,000 plus refund/rebooking depending on flight duration. Force-majeure events (weather, ATC, security) are exempt from cash compensation but you still get a full refund or alternate flight.
Yes, rescheduling is usually cheaper than cancelling and rebooking. Domestic rescheduling: Value: ₹3,000 (flat). Classic: ₹300 (>72 hr) / ₹1,000 (<72 hr). Flex: Free anytime. Plus fare difference. Free re-booking permitted within the DGCA 24-hour rule if departure is at least 7 days away. International rescheduling: Premium Economy Classic: Free (>72 hr) / ₹5,000 (<72 hr). Business Classic: Free (>72 hr) / smaller fee (<72 hr). Flex tiers: Free anytime + fare difference. Star Alliance codeshare on partner metal follows operating-carrier rules. You only pay the change fee plus any fare difference for the new date. Rescheduling is not available on the most restrictive fare classes — check fare conditions at booking. Use the same www.airindia.com Manage Booking flow to change dates instead of cancelling.
Air India defines no-show as failing to change or cancel a booking at least 2 hours before scheduled departure. Inside the no-show window, refund and change are not permitted across any cabin or fare type; the entire base fare and fuel surcharge (YQ) are forfeited and only statutory taxes are refundable on request via airindia.com. To avoid forfeiting your fare entirely, always cancel online before departure even if it is last-minute. The cancellation charge will usually be lower than a complete fare forfeit. Statutory government taxes (PSF, UDF, GST on taxes) remain refundable even on no-show bookings — submit a tax-refund request at www.airindia.com or via HappyFares.
Air India ticket cancellation refund flow: (1) Cancel via www.airindia.com Manage Booking → confirmation screen shows the refund amount AFTER deducting the cancellation charge. (2) Save the Refund Reference Number from the cancellation email. (3) Refund credit to your original payment method takes Refund processed within 7-10 business days per Air India press release (2-3 days airline + 2-3 days bank). DGCA SLA: 7 business days for card refunds, 20 business days for cash/cheque. You can claim refund up to 2 years from ticket issuance.. (4) If you booked on HappyFares, you can also trigger the cancellation from HappyFares My Bookings; we relay the cancellation to Air India's GDS and surface the refund status. Statutory taxes (PSF, UDF, GST on taxes) are always refunded — even on non-refundable fare classes and no-show bookings.
The Air India refund policy lets you cancel any ticket up to flight departure and receive a refund to your original mode of payment, minus the cancellation charge for that fare class. Domestic refunds typically deduct Value ₹4,000 • Classic ₹2,000 • Flex Free when cancelled more than 48 hours before departure. International refunds depend on fare brand and time-to-departure. Statutory taxes (PSF, UDF, GST on taxes) are refundable on every cancellation including no-show bookings. Refund credit timeline: Refund processed within 7-10 business days per Air India press release (2-3 days airline + 2-3 days bank). DGCA SLA: 7 business days for card refunds, 20 business days for cash/cheque. You can claim refund up to 2 years from ticket issuance.
Air India refund time: Refund processed within 7-10 business days per Air India press release (2-3 days airline + 2-3 days bank). DGCA SLA: 7 business days for card refunds, 20 business days for cash/cheque. You can claim refund up to 2 years from ticket issuance.. Card refunds typically arrive in 5-7 working days; bank transfers and wallet credits may take 7-10 working days; Miles/loyalty points redeposit in 5-7 working days. Per DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements (for Indian carriers), credit-card refunds must complete within 7 working days of the cancellation request; bank-transfer and cheque refunds within 30 days. Track your refund status using your cancellation reference at www.airindia.com.
Check your Air India refund status in three ways: (1) Open www.airindia.com Manage Booking, enter PNR + last name, view "Refund Status" tab. (2) Open the Air India mobile app, go to My Trips → Cancelled bookings → tap the booking for status detail. (3) On HappyFares, log in and open My Bookings → Cancellation history. If the refund is delayed beyond the published timeline (Refund processed within 7-10 business days per Air India press release (2-3 days airline + 2-3 days bank). DGCA SLA: 7 business days for card refunds, 20 business days for cash/cheque. You can claim refund up to 2 years from ticket issuance.), contact Air India customer care at 0124-264 1407 with your cancellation reference number and original payment-method last 4 digits.
Air India customer care number (India): 0124-264 1407. For refund-specific questions, ask the agent to route you to the Refunds team and quote your cancellation reference. Air India customer care operates 24x7 in English and Hindi. For HappyFares-booked tickets, you can also call HappyFares support — refund follow-up is faster from our team because we hold the GDS booking reference.
Air India refund customer care: (1) Call Air India at 0124-264 1407 and request the Refunds desk. (2) Email refunds via www.airindia.com contact form — attach booking confirmation + cancellation acknowledgement. (3) HappyFares customer support (write2shanti@gmail.com or call +91 76700 70070) for tickets booked on HappyFares — we escalate to Air India's GDS desk directly. Always have your PNR, cancellation reference, and original payment-method screenshot ready.
Air India fare rules vary by fare brand and route. Domestic Air India flights typically offer multiple fare tiers (e.g. base/saver, flexi, premium) — higher tiers cost more upfront but include free changes/cancellations or higher refunds. International Air India routes follow the carrier's brand structure with Lite/Standard/Flex variants. The most-restrictive fare buckets (typically called Lite, Saver, Basic, or Value) are non-refundable except for taxes. Always check fare conditions at booking; HappyFares displays the cancellation/change rules in the fare comparison panel before you pay.
Air India cancellation charges within 24 hours of booking depend on time-to-departure, not booking age. India has no mandatory 24-hour free-cancellation window like the US DOT rule. If your flight is more than 48 hours away and you booked within the last 24 hours, the standard Value ₹4,000 • Classic ₹2,000 • Flex Free domestic cancellation charge still applies. Some Air India fare brands include a separate "free-change window" within 48 hours after booking — check fare conditions for your specific ticket. To get a true 24-hour free cancellation, opt into Air India's Fare Lock or HappyFares Easy Refund add-on at booking.
If your Air India flight is delayed, the DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements protect you: (1) Delay >2 hours: free meal/refreshments at the airport. (2) Delay >6 hours: refund OR alternate Air India flight + meal voucher. (3) Cancellation by Air India: full refund within 7 working days OR rebooking on next available Air India flight at no charge OR ₹5,000-10,000 compensation depending on route. (4) Force-majeure delays (weather, ATC, security) are exempt from cash compensation but the refund/rebooking right stays. Save the delay SMS and boarding pass — they're your proof for the refund claim.
Air India ticket cancellation online — step-by-step: (1) Go to www.airindia.com → Manage Booking. (2) Enter PNR (6 characters) + Last Name. (3) Select the segment(s) to cancel — full or partial. (4) Review cancellation charges and refund amount on the confirmation screen. (5) Click "Cancel & Refund" — you receive an email confirmation immediately with a Refund Reference Number. (6) Refund is credited to your original payment method in Refund processed within 7-10 business days per Air India press release (2-3 days airline + 2-3 days bank). DGCA SLA: 7 business days for card refunds, 20 business days for cash/cheque. You can claim refund up to 2 years from ticket issuance.. Tip: cancelling online via Manage Booking is cheaper than phone-cancellation on most Air India fares — call-centre cancellations may add a small service fee.
Air India Manage Booking is the self-service portal on www.airindia.com where you can: cancel a ticket and start the refund, change travel dates (pay difference + change fee), select or change seats, pre-book meals/baggage/lounge access, web check-in, download invoice/GST receipt, request a wheelchair or special meal, and check refund status. Login uses PNR + Last Name (no password required). HappyFares My Bookings mirrors most of these functions if you booked via HappyFares — refund start, web check-in, GST invoice. For complex changes that Manage Booking can't handle (codeshare segments, multi-city itineraries), call Air India at 0124-264 1407.
Refund = (Total fare paid) − (Cancellation charge for your fare class and time-to-departure) + (Statutory taxes always refunded). For Air India domestic, the cancellation deduction is roughly: Value ₹4,000 • Classic ₹2,000 • Flex Free more than 48 hours out, Value ₹4,000 • Classic ₹3,500 • Flex Free between 24-48h, and Value ₹4,000 • Classic ₹3,500 • Flex Free between 4-24h. For Air India international, charges depend on fare brand and region. A typical economy ticket cancelled 4+ days before departure recovers about 70-85% of the fare. Lowest fare buckets (Lite/Saver/Basic) only return statutory taxes. The exact refund amount is displayed BEFORE you confirm cancellation, on the www.airindia.com Manage Booking review screen.
Quickest path to Air India refund: (1) Cancel ONLINE via www.airindia.com Manage Booking (not phone — phone adds processing time). (2) Cancel as EARLY as possible — every 24-48 hour bracket you cross before departure increases the deduction. (3) Use the ORIGINAL payment method for fastest refund — credit cards typically refund in 5-7 working days; bank transfers take 7-10 days; international cards may take longer due to FX settlement. (4) For HappyFares-booked tickets, our easy refund tracker pushes the refund through Air India's GDS API — try it at HappyFares My Bookings. (5) After cancellation, save the Refund Reference Number; quote it in any follow-up with Air India customer care (0124-264 1407).
Air India Maharaja Club (the loyalty programme) award tickets follow programme-specific rules: cancellation inside 48 hours of departure forfeits ~50% of redeemed miles; outside 48 hours, miles are redeposited minus a service charge (typically 500-1,500 miles or ₹500-1,500). Award tickets in higher cabins (Premium Economy, Business) follow proportionally higher service charges. Always cancel award bookings at airindia.com Manage Booking — phone cancellation may add a service fee. For Star Alliance partner award redemptions, partner-carrier rules apply.
Vistara merged into Air India in April 2025. All Vistara flight numbers (UK xxx) were reissued as Air India AI-2xxx series during the integration. If you hold a Vistara ticket from before the merger or an AI-2xxx ticket today, the Air India cancellation policy above applies. Use airindia.com Manage Booking with your Air India PNR. For pre-merger Vistara tickets that show "UK" prefix, Air India honours the original Vistara fare conditions on a one-time courtesy basis — call Air India India support: 0124-264 1407 to retrieve your record.
No. Vande Bharat repatriation flights (operated 2020-21 during COVID), defence charter flights, and government-block-booking arrangements DO NOT follow the standard Air India cancellation policy. Those bookings followed special MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) terms — refunds were handled case-by-case via Indian Missions abroad. If you hold a legacy Vande Bharat booking with unresolved refund, contact the issuing Indian Mission or write to refunds@airindia.in citing your VBM booking reference. Vande Bharat operations ended August 2022; new charter operators on lease-and-charter agreements (e.g. specific corporate group bookings) follow their own contract terms, not airline retail policy.
Going further — your passenger rights
Air India's cancellation policy is one piece. If you're dealing with a delay, denied boarding, or lost baggage, these DGCA + Montreal Convention guides cover the full traveller-rights framework.