Flight cancellations: How flyers can claim refunds across platforms and airlines

As flight disruptions and last-minute plan changes continue to affect travel plans, online booking platforms and airlines are offering cancellation protection options that allow passengers to recover the airline fare component of their tickets under defined conditions.

Paytm, through its travel app Paytm Checkin, has introduced a ₹99 opt-in flight cancellation feature that enables customers to cancel eligible bookings and receive a full refund of the airfare component. The option is available at the time of booking on select domestic and international routes and is positioned as a flexibility add-on for travellers.

Under the policy, cancellations must be initiated through the Paytm Checkin app within specified time windows, and refunds are credited back to the original mode of payment after airline confirmation. The refund excludes Paytm’s convenience fee and the cancellation protection premium itself. In certain airline-initiated cancellation cases, the premium may also be refunded, subject to eligibility conditions.
Online travel portal ixigo offers an optional “ixigo Assured” feature on select flights, which allows users to pay an additional amount at the time of booking for cancellation protection. When cancelled within the applicable window through ixigo’s platform, passengers are eligible for a refund of the airline fare component, subject to the terms and conditions of the product.

Cleartrip provides a flexible fare option branded as “Freedom Fare” on selected flights, under which passengers are allowed to cancel their bookings and receive a refund of the airline fare if the cancellation is made within the conditions specified at the time of booking. The option is embedded within the fare structure and must be chosen upfront.

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Goibibo also offers a cancellation protection add-on on certain flights, which allows customers to cancel bookings without bearing standard airline cancellation charges, provided the cancellation is carried out through Goibibo and within the applicable time limits. The availability and scope of this benefit depend on airline and route.

Other platforms, including Yatra and EaseMyTrip, have previously offered cancellation protection products in partnership with insurers. These products generally reimburse airline cancellation charges rather than offering an automatic in-app refund and may involve claim submission and documentation, making them structurally different from platform-managed cancellation protections.

Separately, aviation regulations in India require airlines to offer passengers a full refund if a flight is cancelled by the carrier or rescheduled in a manner that the passenger does not accept.

Under the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s Civil Aviation Requirements, airlines must provide the option of a refund or alternate flight at no additional cost, irrespective of whether the ticket was booked directly with the airline or through an online travel agency. Refunds in such cases are required to be processed within prescribed timelines, typically within seven working days for online bookings.

Domestic carriers follow these regulations and offer refunds or rebooking options when flights are cancelled due to operational, technical or weather-related reasons, although refund timelines may vary depending on the volume of disruptions and the booking channel used.

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