Air India Cancellation Policy: The national airline of India, Air India, was founded as Tata Airlines in 1932 and has a long and illustrious history. After being nationalised in 1946, it changed its name to Air India. The airline, a representation of India’s aviation capability, has been instrumental in linking the country with the rest of the world. Air India has been a major player in the global aviation business, operating a vast fleet of aircraft and offering both domestic and international services. The airline has gained recognition for its excellent service and friendly hospitality and is well-known for its unique Maharaja mascot. Despite experiencing financial difficulties over the years, Air India continues to play a significant role in India’s aviation industry, enhancing the nation’s connectivity and acting as a link between different cultures.
For travellers wishing to cancel their tickets and receive a complete refund in certain situations, the Air India flight cancellation policy offers detailed instructions. Notably, if the departure is at least 7 days from the purchasing period, you can cancel any Air India flight within 24 hours of purchase and get a full refund.
Air India Cancellation Policy for the U.S.A.
Air India 24-Hour Cancellation Policy for the United States
Passengers who directly book a flight to or from the United States at least 7 days in advance of departure are eligible for a full refund if they choose to cancel within the first 24 hours of booking under Air India’s 24-hour cancellation policy. This policy applies to all ticket categories, including those that are non-refundable.
Notably, there can be a cancellation fee or penalty if a ticket is cancelled within 7 days of the flight’s scheduled departure. The exact cost varies according to the kind of ticket bought; typically, it ranges from $200 to USD 300. Some fare categories, like award and promotional fares, are not refundable.
Air India’s Country-Specific Travel Waivers
Travel Waiver Air India Details for Select Routes:
- India to the United States:
- Applicable to passengers holding confirmed 098 tickets issued before May 4, with a travel date post-May 4, until the entry requirements are relaxed.
- No penalty for flight cancellations scheduled after May 4.
- India to the U.A.E.:
- Applicable to passengers, excluding U.A.E. nationals and exempted categories, holding 098 India – U.A.E. tickets with a travel date until August 7.
- Flight cancellations within the ticket’s validity period incur no penalties except one-way tickets from U.A.E. to India.
- India to Germany:
- Applicable to all 098 confirmed tickets for India – Germany flights with a travel date after April 26 until the easing of travel restrictions.
- There is no penalty for flight cancellations during this period.
- There is no penalty for flight cancellations under these conditions.
- India to Canada:
- This applies to all 098 tickets for India – Vancouver/Toronto flights with a travel date between April 23 – May 23 due to the prevailing COVID situation in India.
- There is no penalty for flight cancellations within this specified period.
- India to the United Kingdom:
- This applies to all 098 tickets for India – U.K. flights issued before April 23 until the resumption of flights.
- There is no penalty for flight cancellations under this waiver.
Air India Cancellation Charges
What are the Air India cancellation charges for domestic tickets?
| Travel Class | RBD*/ Booking Class | Cancellation Fee | No-Show Fee |
| First Class | F, A | Zero (till 2 hours prior to departure). | Whichever is lower, INR 3,000 or Basic Fare, (less than 2 hours prior to departure). |
| Business Class | C, D, J | Zero (till 2 hours prior to departure). | Whichever is lower, INR 3,000 or Basic Fare, (less than 2 hours prior to departure). |
| Z | INR 4,000 or Basic Fare, whichever is lower (till 12 hours prior to departure). | Whichever is lower, INR 5,000 or Basic Fare, (less than 12 hours prior to departure) | |
| Economy Class | Y, B, M | Zero (till 2 hours prior to departure). | Whichever is lower, INR 3,000 or Basic Fare, (less than 2 hours prior to departure) |
| H, K, Q, V, W, G, L, U | INR 3,000 or Basic Fare, whichever is lower (till 2 hours prior to departure). | Non-refundable (If less than 2 hours prior to departure, the Basic fare will be forfeited. | |
| T, S, | INR 3,000 or Basic Fare, whichever is lower (till 12 hours prior to departure). If less than 12 hours prior to departure, the Basic Fare will be forfeited. | Non-refundable (If less than 12 hours prior to departure, the Basic fare will be forfeited.
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Air India Refund Policy and Rules
Guidelines for Air India Cancellation Policy and Refund Procedures with Air India:
- Cancellation Process:
- Before seeking a refund, initiate the cancellation of your flight.
- Refund applications (partially/entirely unused) must be submitted within 15 months from the ticket’s issue date or up to 3 months after its expiry.
- Refund Application Details:
- When applying for a refund, provide the following details: passenger name/name, complete address, phone number, email address, ticket number, flight number, date of travel, and credit card number used for the ticket purchase.
- Cash refunds for payments made in cash are issued by check to the specified address. Credit/debit card refunds are processed back to the original account.
- Refund Processing Time:
- Most refunds are processed immediately, but credit card refunds may take up to 20 days.
- Modification and Cancellation Options:
- If booked directly from Air India, modifications or cancellations can be made online for entirely unused tickets, by phone, or through the travel agent.
- Online Refunds:
- Online refunds can be applied up to 48 hours before departure; not accepted within 48 hours.
- PNR with Multiple Passengers:
- Changes to a PNR with multiple passengers impact all individuals on the booking; contact the Air India Call Center for modifications or cancellations.
- Technical Assistance:
- For issues with My Booking access, fare rules, or any online booking assistance, email ecommerce@airindia.in.
- Refund Issuing Authority:
- The ticket issuing authority processes refunds; if purchased through a travel agent, refunds are managed by the agent.
- Open Tickets:
- Endorse open tickets for travel through an Air India office or a travel agent; online endorsement is not available.
- Partially Utilized Tickets:
- For partially used tickets, claim a refund on the unused portion, subject to cancellation charges. Note that heavily discount fares may be non-refundable for partly utilised tickets.
How to Cancel Your Air India Flight Booking?
You can choose to use any of the following channels to cancel your reservation for a flight as per Air India Cancellation Policy:
- Via the Air India Call Center or by phone: Make use of the ease of cancelling your reservation by contacting the Air India Call Center at a location close to you or over the phone.
- Online Cancellation (Air India Direct Purchase): If you bought your ticket directly from Air India, make use of the easy-to-use online tool to start and finish the cancellation procedure.
- Using Your Travel Agent: If you purchased your ticket via a travel agency, work with them to expedite the cancellation of your airline ticket.
How can I cancel an Air India ticket online?
The only people who can cancel flights online are those who purchased their tickets directly from Air India. To begin the online cancelling process, take the following actions:
- Go to AirIndia.in.
- Click “Manage Your Trip” and choose “Manage Booking.”
- Give the booking reference (PNR) or ticket number and your last name.
- The “Retrieve Booking” button should be clicked.
- Select the particular flight you want to cancel by following the instructions.
- Finish the cancellation procedure.
You’ll get a confirmation email after the cancellation is approve. Notably, cancellation requests pertaining to flights booked through travel agencies must be sent to the relevant agency; online cancellation is limited to tickets bought directly from Air India.
Air India Ticket Cancellation and Rebooking
If you bought your ticket directly from Air India, find out how to effectively cancel and rebook it online:
- Go to AirIndia.in.
- In the “Manage Your Trip” section, select “Manage Booking.”
- Enter the ticket number, booking reference, PNR, and last name.
- Then select “Retrieve Booking.”
- Get out of your current flight.
- Go back to Air India. Now.
- Indicate what your new travel needs are.
- Select “Book Now.”
- To choose your new flight, adhere to the directions on the screen.
- Receive your new e-ticket via email as soon as payment is received.
If you purchased your tickets from a travel agency or another source, contact that provider with any questions you may have about rebooking. Contact the local Air India Customer Support Office if you have any questions.
Keep in mind:
- Refunds online are not available 48 hours prior to departure.
- Any changes or cancellations made to a reservation through a call centre or Air India Reservations office cannot be made again.
- Any changes or cancellations made to a single Passenger Name Record (PNR) involving several passengers will affect every person listed. Thus, any changes or cancellations will affect the entire group. Within a multi-passenger booking, individual changes are not feasible.
How to Cancel Your Air India Flight Booking by Phone?
To cancel your Air India flight booking, you can conveniently reach out via phone using the following contact numbers:
- S.A. and Canada (toll-free)
- India: 0124-2641407 / 020-26231407 / 1860-233-1407
- France: 331 874 06644 (toll number)
- Germany: 496925511337 (toll number)
- K.: 0800 048 9254 (toll-free)
- Australia: 613 701 98270 (toll number)
- Singapore: 800 101 4016 (toll-free)
- Other Countries: +91-124-2641407 / 20-26231407 / +1-866-217-1292 (toll number)
Choose the appropriate number for your region; the Air India customer support team will assist you with the cancellation process.
