Air India Cancellation Policy — Charges, Refund Rules & Process

7 to 14 working days for domestic
www.airindia.com
Original payment
Cancel on Air India → ← Air India Overview

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 ₹3,000 Cancellation fee plus YQ (fuel surcharge) component deducted; balance refunded 6,000–10,000 Route- and fare-class-dependent; cancellation fee deducted before refund
Between 24 and 48 hours ₹3,500 Higher cancellation fee plus YQ deducted; balance refunded 8,000–12,000 Higher route-dependent fee; balance refunded
Between 4 and 24 hours 3,500–4,500 Highest domestic cancellation slab; balance refunded if applicable 10,000–15,000 Highest international cancellation slab
Less than 4 hours / no-show Full fare forfeit No fare refund; statutory taxes refundable on request Full forfeit (most fares) No fare refund except statutory taxes; refundable fares may have residual value

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.

7 to 14 working days for domestic; up to 30 days for international tickets

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

₹3,000 plus fare difference for changes more than 48 hours before departure on most economy fares.

International Reschedule

₹8,000–12,000 plus fare difference depending on fare class and route; Star Alliance partner segments follow operating-carrier rules.

Air India No-Show Policy — What If I Miss My Flight?

No-Show Rule

No-show on Air India means the entire fare and YQ are forfeited. Only statutory taxes are refundable. Some refundable Business and First Class fares may retain residual value — check fare conditions.

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

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 offers fare-hold (price lock) on select international fares for a small fee — confirms the fare for 24-72 hours while you complete travel planning.

How to Cancel Your Air India Ticket — Step by Step

  1. Visit www.airindia.com or open the HappyFares My Bookings page on happyfares.in.
  2. Enter your 6-character PNR (booking reference) and the lead passenger's last name.
  3. Click "Cancel Booking" and select the passengers and segments you want to cancel.
  4. Review the cancellation charges shown on screen against the time-to-departure brackets above.
  5. Confirm the cancellation — you will receive an email acknowledgement with a cancellation reference.
  6. Refund is processed in 7 to 14 working days for domestic; up to 30 days for international tickets to your original mode of payment.

Where Can I Cancel My Air India Booking?

Cancellation Channels

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:

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.

Looking to rebook? Find a new fare on HappyFares with no convenience fee.

Search Flights →
Air India Overview Hubs, fleet, baggage policy, contact info
→
Air India Web Check-In Online check-in window, steps, boarding pass
→

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 ₹3,000 for domestic and 6,000–10,000 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.
Air India cancellation charges depend on time-to-departure and route. For domestic flights: ₹3,000 more than 48 hours out, ₹3,500 between 24-48 hours, and 3,500–4,500 between 4-24 hours. International flights: 6,000–10,000 more than 48 hours out, scaling up to 10,000–15,000 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 7 to 14 working days for domestic; up to 30 days for international tickets to your original mode of payment.
Air India processes cancellation refunds in 7 to 14 working days for domestic; up to 30 days for international tickets. 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: Promo / Saver fares on select domestic routes, Restricted promotional international fares (refundable only after deducting full cancellation charges). 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: ₹3,000 plus fare difference for changes more than 48 hours before departure on most economy fares. International rescheduling: ₹8,000–12,000 plus fare difference depending on fare class and route; Star Alliance partner segments follow 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.
No-show on Air India means the entire fare and YQ are forfeited. Only statutory taxes are refundable. Some refundable Business and First Class fares may retain residual value — check fare conditions. 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.