The Air India flight cancellation policy allows you to cancel your ticket and claim a full refund under the following conditions. 

  • You can cancel any Air India flight within 24 hours of purchasing your ticket and receive a full refund if your flight’s departure is at least 7 days later at the time of booking. 
  • If Air India cancels your flight, you have the right to either opt for the alternative flight offered to you or ask for a full refund.
  • If your Air India flight within India is delayed by 6 hours or more, you have the option to ask for a full refund or take the alternative flight offered to you.
  • If your Air India flight is delayed and the delay causes you to miss a connecting flight on the same booking, you can either opt for the alternative connecting flight offered to you or ask for a full refund.
  • If you are denied boarding due to overbooking, Air India must offer you an alternative flight that departs within 1 hour of the original flight on which you were denied boarding. If Air India is unable to do so, you are within your rights ask for a full refund plus a compensation of up to INR 20,000 if you do not opt for the alternative flight offered to you. 

Air India Cancellation Policy for the USA


Air India 24-Hour Cancellation Policy for the United States

According to Air India’s 24-hour cancellation policy, if you book a flight ticket to/from the United States directly from Air India at least 7 days before departure, you can cancel your ticket within 24 hours of booking and get a full refund.

The 24-hour cancellation policy applies to all types of tickets, including non-refundable ones. However, if you purchased your ticket from a travel agency, you must contact them directly.

If you cancel your ticket within 7 days of your flight’s departure, you may have to pay a cancellation fee or penalty. The cancellation penalty will depend on the type of ticket you have purchased. The cancellation fee will typically range from USD 200–300, though certain types of fares (award and promotional) may be non-refundable. 

Air India Cancellation Policy Due to COVID-19—International Flights 

If your flight ticket on an international route was affected by a COVID-19 situation per the flight dates below, you have the option to cancel your ticket and claim a penalty-free refund by March 31, or make changes to your flight as well as extend your travel date without penalty till December 31.

You can cancel your flight and ask for a refund on a confirmed 098 ticket booked on any of the flights listed below:

  • Flights with a travel date between March 15, and March 31 that:
    • Were disrupted due to cancellation on account of COVID-19, or
    • Were disrupted due to a change in the destination country’s visa regulations on account of COVID-19, or 
  • Flights to India from March 13 (March 10, for flights from France) that were suspended by the Bureau of Immigration, India, for OCI card holders and foreign (non-Indian) nationals as a result of which they were unable to travel to India until the lifting of the suspension.

Refund Validity: The refund validity period for the tickets mentioned above will be March 31. This means you can apply for a refund of the above-mentioned tickets no later than March 31.

Air India’s Country-Specific Travel Waivers

  • Air India Travel Waiver Between India and the United States 
    • Applies to passengers with confirmed 098 tickets issued prior to May 4, with a travel date after May 4, till the relaxation of entry requirements. 
    • You can cancel your flight without penalty if it is scheduled post-May 4.  
  • Air India Travel Waiver Between India and the UAE
    • Applies to passengers other than UAE nationals and exempted category passengers holding 098 India – UAE tickets with a travel date till August 7. 
    • You can cancel your flight without penalty within your ticket’s validity period. 

Exception. Does not include a one-way ticket from UAE to India.

  • Air India Travel Waiver Between India and Germany
    • Applies to all 098 confirmed tickets for India – Germany flights having a travel date after April 26, until the travel restrictions are relaxed. 
    • You can cancel your flight without penalty.
  • Air India Travel Waiver Between India and Oman
    • Applies to all 098 tickets for India – Muscat flights issued prior to April 21, with a travel date after April 24, (1800 hours) until the travel restrictions are relaxed.
    • You can cancel your flight without penalty.
  • Air India Travel Waiver Between India and Canada
    • Applies to all 098 tickets for India – Vancouver/Toronto flights with a travel date between April 23 – May 23, due to the COVID situation in India.
    • You can cancel your flight without penalty.
  • Air India Travel Waiver Between India and the United Kingdom
    • Applies to all 098 tickets for India – UK flight flights issued prior to April 23, till the flights are resumed. 
    • You can cancel your flight without penalty.

Air India Cancellation Charges


What are the Air India cancellation charges for domestic tickets?

Travel Class RBD*/ Booking ClassCancellation FeeNo-Show Fee
First ClassF, AZero (till 2 hours prior to departure).Whichever is lower, INR 3,000 or Basic Fare, (less than 2 hours prior to departure).
Business ClassC, D, JZero (till 2 hours prior to departure).Whichever is lower, INR 3,000 or Basic Fare, (less than 2 hours prior to departure).
ZINR 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 ClassY, B, MZero (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, UINR 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.
Note: You will be GST (Goods and Service Tax) per the following details:5% Economy Class 12% Business and First Class
*Resource Booking Designator (RBD), used to identify the booking class.

Air India Refund Policy and Rules

  • Before applying for a refund, you must cancel your flight. 
  • You must apply for a refund (partially/fully unused) within 15 months from the date of issue, i.e., up to 3 months after your ticket’s expiry. 
  • When applying for a refund, be sure to include the following:
    • Passenger name/names
    • Full address
    • Phone number 
    • Email address 
    • Ticket number
    • Fight number 
    • Date of travel
    • Credit Card Number used for purchasing the ticket
  • Cash payments will be refunded by check to the address specified by the passenger. Refunds for payments made by debit/credit card will be made to the same account. 
  • Redemption Bookings must be made through the Air India Call Center, they cannot be made online. 
  • Most refunds are processed immediately, but credit card refunds take at least 20 days. 
  • If you booked your flight directly from Air India, you can modify or cancel it:
    • Online via My Booking if your ticket is fully unused
    • By phone or the Air India Call Center near you)
    • Through the travel agent you purchased your ticket from 
  • You can apply for online refunds up to 48 hours before departure. Online refunds will not be accepted within 48 hours of departure. 
  • If you’re rebooking a flight that is costlier than your original flight, you will have to pay the applicable fare difference (in most cases). If possible, use the same mode of payment as before. 
  • If you cancelled or modified your flight through a Call Center or if your ticket is partly utilized, you cannot modify or cancel it online—you must contact Air India for assistance.
  • If you modify or cancel a PNR with multiple passengers on it, it will impact all the passengers on the flight booking. This means you cannot make changes to a single passenger’s booking on a PNR with multiple passengers on it. To modify or cancel such bookings, you will have to get in touch with the Air India Call Center.
  • If you’re unable to access My Booking or your fare rules do not permit a refund, or you need any assistance with online booking, etc., send an email to ecommerce@airindia.in.
  • If you want to make changes to a ticket you did not book online via AirIndia.in, contact Air India to modify or cancel your flight reservations. 
  • Refunds will only be made by the ticket issuing authority. This means if you purchased your ticket from a travel agent, the refund will also be processed by your travel agent. 
  • Open tickets can be endorsed for travel through an Air India office or a travel agent, but not online. 
  • If you were downgraded for a flight due to a change of aircraft, you can apply for a refund by sending your boarding card and ticket jacket to the Refunds Section to get your refund processed per the rules. 
  • If you have only used a part of your ticket, you’re entitled to claim a refund on the unused portion of your ticket, subject to cancellation charges. 
  • In case of heavily discounted fares, partially utilized tickets are non-refundable. 

How to Cancel Your Air India Flight Booking

You can cancel your Air India flight booking: 

  • By phone or an Air India Call Center in near you)
  • Online if you purchased your ticket directly from Air India
  • Through your travel agent

How can I cancel an Air India ticket online?

You can make a flight cancellation online only if you booked your ticket directly from Air India.

To cancel your Air India ticket online:

  1. Go to AirIndia.in 
  2. From Manage Your Trip, select Manage Booking
  3. Enter your last name and booking reference (PNR)/ticket number
  4. Click on the Retrieve Booking button 
  5. Follow the prompts to select your flight and cancel it 

After you cancel your flight, you will receive an email confirming the cancellation. To cancel a flight booked through a travel agent, you must contact the agent directly.

Air India Ticket Cancellation and Rebooking

How to cancel your Air India ticket and rebook it online

If you purchased your ticket directly from Air India, you can cancel it online as well as rebook it online.

To cancel and rebook your Air India ticket, follow the steps below.

  1. Go to AirIndia.in 
  2. Select the Manage Booking option from Manage Your Trip
  3. Enter your last name and booking reference/PNR or ticket number 
  4. Hit the Retrieve Booking button 
  5. Cancel your flight 
  6. Go back to AirIndia.in 
  7. Enter your new trip requirements 
  8. Click on the Book Now button  
  9. Follow the on-screen prompts to select your new flight

You will receive your new e-ticket by email immediately after you pay.

If you purchased your ticket from a travel agency or another source, contact them directly to rebook.

If you have any questions, call Air India’s Customer Support Office in your area. 

Note

  • Online refunds cannot be made within 48 hours before departure.
  • Bookings cancelled or modified through a Call Center or Air India Reservations office cannot be cancelled or modified again. 
  • Cancelling or modifying a single PNR (booking) with multiple passengers will result in the modification or cancellation of all the passengers’ bookings on the list. In other words, you cannot modify one passenger’s booking from a booking that contains multiple bookings. 

How to Cancel Your Air India Flight Booking by Phone 

You can cancel your Air India flight booking by phone at the following numbers:  

  • U.S.A. and Canada (toll-free) 
  • India 0124-2641407/020-26231407/1860-233-1407
  • France 331 874 06644 (toll number) 
  • Germany 496925511337 (toll number)
  • U.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 (toll number)

Frequently Asked Questions on Air India Cancellation Policy

Air India’s cancellation charges for domestic flight tickets are as follows:

  • First Class ticket cancellation charges
    • F, A INR 0 up to 2 hours before departure
      INR 3,000 or Basic Fare (whichever is lower) < 2 hours before departure
  • Business Class ticket cancellation charges
    • C, D, and J INR 0 up to 2 hours before departure
      INR 3,000 or Basic Fare (whichever is lower) < 2 hours before departure 
    • Z INR 4,000 or Basic Fare (whichever is lower) <12 hours before departure
      INR 5,000 or Basic Fare (whichever is lower) <12 hours before departure
  • Economy Class ticket cancellation charges
    • Y, B, M INR 0 up to 2 hours before departure
      INR 3,000 or Basic Fare (whichever is lower) < 2 hours before departure 
    • H, K, Q, V, W, G, L, U INR 3,000 or Basic Fare (whichever is lower) till 2 hours before departure
      Non-refundable if less than 2 hours before departure
    • T, S INR 3,000 or Basic Fare (whichever is lower) till 12 hours before departure
      Non-refundable if less than 12 hours before departure

According to the Air India domestic ticket cancellation policy, if you purchase a ticket (regardless of type) at least 7 days before a flight’s departure, you’re allowed to cancel it within 24 hours without being charged any penalty. 

If Air India cancelled your flight, you have the option to either take the alternative flight offered to you or decline it and claim a refund if the new flight schedule does not suit you. 

Air India’s international cancellation charges will depend on your fare type, route, and when you cancel your ticket. They typically range from USD 200–300-plus, though promotional and heavily discounted fares may be non-refundable. 

Remember, you will not be charged any cancellation fee: 

  • If you cancel your flight to/from the USA within the 24-hour window and your flight’s departure at the time of booking is at least 7 days later. 
  • If you cancel a fully refundable fare. 
  • Your flight is covered under the COVID-19 travel waiver.

If you want a full refund of your ticket, you must cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking—as long as you book your flight at least 7 days before departure.

You can cancel your Air India ticket booked as a guest from the Manage Your Trip tab on AirIndia.in. Select Manage Booking, enter your last name and booking reference/PNR or ticket number, and follow the prompts to cancel your ticket.

You can cancel your Air India flight online through the Manage Booking link that appears under the Manage Your Trip tab on Air India’s homepage (AirIndia.in).

Non-refundable Air India tickets, as the name suggests, cannot be cancelled and refunded. If you cancel a non-refundable ticket, the entire fare (except taxes) will be forfeited.

That depends on what type of fare you’ve purchased and when you cancel the ticket. If you’re cancelling a domestic flight ticket in the following classes no less than 2 hours before departure, you will not be charged any fee:

  • First Class F, A
  • Business Class C, D, J
  • Economy Class Y, B, M

For other types of tickets, you will be charged a cancellation fee ranging from INR 3,000 – 5,000 or the Basic Fare (whichever is lower), depending on your fare type and when you cancel. 

The following 3 rules apply to non-refundable Air India tickets:

  1. All non-refundable tickets can be cancelled within 24 hours without penalty if the flight’s departure date is 7 more days later at the time of booking. This rule applies to all domestic flights and flights directly booked through Air India to/from the United States.
  2. All non-refundable tickets can be cancelled without penalty if they qualify under the COVID-19 travel waiver scheme. 
  3. In all other scenarios, non-refundable tickets cannot be cancelled or refunded. If you do decide to cancel a non-refundable ticket, only the refundable portion of the taxes will be refunded to you.

The cancellation charges on international flights can typically range from USD 200 – 300-plus, depending on your fare type and route. On domestic flights, the cancellation charges typically range from INR 3,000 – 5,000 or the Basic Fare, whichever is lower, depending on your travel class, fare type, and when you cancel.  

To know whether your Air India flight is cancelled, go to AirIndia.in/FlightTracking.htm, enter your flight details (date and flight number), and click on the Search button. Your flight’s real-time status will appear on your screen. 

You can cancel an Air India ticket booked online through the Manage Booking link appearing under Manage Your Trip. Retrieve your flight booking by entering your flight details and follow the on-screen prompts to cancel it. 

If you booked your ticket from a third party, you must contact them directly to cancel your ticket.

8 thoughts on “Air India Cancellation Policy”

  • I would like to purchase a multycity international air ticket from Air India site to travel to USA during August 2022. What are the cancellation charges if I am unable to travel and cancel the ticket 15 days prior to date of travel.

    • Harminder Schoenberg says:

      My booking number is 2476383519 i booked this ticket by mistake this flight is one stop but i need nonstop so i cancel the ticket already and booked on October 28th nonstop flight number is 82470883 i wants to know if you guys can change October 22nd to October 28th that’s the way i can’t lose my money so please help if is possible thanks

  • I have cancelled my two way ticket from Pune-Delhi-Toronto and back, before s week of journey due to emergency heart surgery of my husband. Air India charged Rs 17850/- as cancellation charges.Whether I am eligible for refund of that amount?

  • AirFryerCarrier says:

    I have cancelled my ticket in Sept 2022 from Chicago-HYD that I booked before May 2022. Will I get any refund for this?

  • chirayu k Patel says:

    I cancel my air India flight emergency from us SFO to Delhi to amdavad Gujarat but 3 month i don’t receive refund what to do

  • AliAkbar MANTRI says:

    I want to cancel my ticket Departure date is one month now. What are cancellation charges. Can I get full refund

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