How to Cancel a Flight Ticket Booked Online in India
By Ishaani Reddy (Ishaani Reddy writes about the consumer-protection side of travel — DGCA passenger rights, OTA refund policies, hidden fees, dynamic-currency-conversion traps and the seven kinds of booking mistakes that quietly drain Indian travel budgets.) · Published · 12 min read
Cancelling a flight online in India is not complicated, but the fees can sting if you don't know what fare class you're on. Here's how to do it — and how to lose as little money as possible in the process.
Know your fare type before you do anything
The single biggest mistake I see people make is cancelling without checking the fare rules. The confirmation email should have a section called 'Fare Details' or 'Cancellation Policy'. Read it before you click anything. Here's what the typical fare buckets look like:
- Non-refundable / Super Saver: You typically lose the base fare. You get back taxes and airport levies (which can be ₹500–₹1,500 on domestic routes). Sometimes the airline offers a credit shell instead — stored credit you can use within 12 months. Better than nothing.
- Partially refundable: Cancellation fee applies (e.g., ₹3,500 per person for IndiGo domestic if cancelled 0–2 hours before departure). The remainder comes back to the original payment method.
- Flexi / refundable: Smallest cancellation fee, or none at all. These fares cost more upfront but give you flexibility.
What DGCA rules actually say about refunds
The DGCA (India's civil aviation regulator) mandates minimum refund protection for domestic flights. As of 2026, if you cancel more than 24 hours before departure, airlines cannot charge more than ₹3,000 (or 10% of the fare, whichever is lower) as a cancellation fee — unless you're on a 'special fare' where the fare rules at the time of booking explicitly stated non-refundability.
The 'special fare' carve-out is significant. Most sub-₹3,000 flash-sale tickets in India fall into this category. So the DGCA protections apply most meaningfully to tickets booked at moderate fares on partially refundable classes.
There's also a rule that if the airline cancels or significantly delays your flight (by more than 3 hours domestic, or if you choose not to travel as a result), you're entitled to a full refund of the entire amount paid — no cancellation fee applies. This is important to know if you're considering cancelling a flight where the airline has already changed the schedule on you.
How to cancel directly with the airline
Cancelling directly on the airline's website or app is usually faster than going through an OTA. Here's where to find it:
- IndiGo: goindigo.in → Manage Booking → enter PNR + email/last name → Cancel. The refund (or credit shell) status updates in real time. IndiGo domestic cancellations outside 24 hours typically cost ₹3,000–₹3,500 per sector on most economy fares. Taxes refunded regardless.
- Air India: airindia.com → Manage Booking → Cancel. Air India's refund process to original payment method can take 7–10 working days.
- Akasa Air: akasaair.com → Manage Booking. Akasa's refunds are reportedly faster — 5–7 working days has been the norm.
- Air India Express: airindiaexpress.com → Retrieve Booking. Budget fares here are mostly non-refundable; you may only get taxes back.
After cancelling, save the cancellation confirmation number. This is your reference if the refund doesn't show up.
How to cancel via an OTA (MakeMyTrip, Ixigo, Cleartrip, etc.)
If you booked via an OTA, you should cancel through the OTA rather than directly with the airline. Here's why: the OTA holds the ticket on your behalf. If you cancel directly with the airline, the OTA's system may not update, causing confusion with refunds.
The process on most OTAs:
- Log in → go to 'My Trips' or 'My Bookings'
- Find the booking → click 'Cancel' or 'Modify'
- The system will show you the exact cancellation fee and refund amount before you confirm — review this carefully
- Confirm cancellation → save the confirmation email/reference number
One thing OTAs sometimes do: they add their own service fee on top of the airline's cancellation fee. This is legal — it's in their terms — but it can add ₹200–₹500 to the total cancellation cost. MakeMyTrip charges a 'MyBiz service fee', Ixigo charges a 'convenience fee reversal'. Check the final refund amount on the cancellation confirmation screen before clicking.
Related: if you haven't received a refund within the stated window, see No Confirmation Email After Booking a Flight? Do This for how to track a payment and escalate.
Credit shell vs cash refund — which is better?
A credit shell (sometimes called 'travel credit' or 'future travel credit') is airline credit stored against your booking PNR, usable for future bookings with that airline. It's not cash back to your bank.
Credit shells are the airline's preferred outcome because the money stays with them. For you, a credit shell is better than zero — but only if you're actually going to fly with that airline again within the validity period (usually 12 months from the original travel date).
Watch out for: credit shell validity dates, blackout periods during peak travel (some airlines block credit shell use during Diwali, Christmas, school holidays), and the fact that credit shells are non-transferable — you can't gift them or use them for someone else's booking.
If you have a choice between a smaller cash refund and a larger credit shell, the credit shell makes sense if you fly frequently. If you travel once a year for leisure, take the cash.
What if the airline cancels your flight?
If IndiGo, Air India, or any other airline cancels your flight (not you), you have three options under DGCA rules: full refund, rebooking on the next available flight on the same airline at no extra charge, or rebooking on an alternate airline with the original carrier covering the cost difference. The full refund option means you get everything back — base fare, taxes, all of it — to your original payment method within 7 working days.
Don't let the airline's customer care push you into a credit shell when you're entitled to a cash refund for a carrier-initiated cancellation. Be explicit: say 'I want a full cash refund as per DGCA regulations.'
The bottom line
Cancelling online is straightforward — the complication is usually the fee, not the process. Know your fare class before you book so there are no surprises. Cancel through the same channel you booked (airline site if direct, OTA app if via OTA). If you're within the 24-hour booking window, check for a free cancel option first. And if the airline cancelled on you, push for a full cash refund — it's your right.
Fares and cancellation policies change frequently — always confirm the current fee in your fare rules before proceeding.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cancellation fee for IndiGo tickets?
As of 2026, IndiGo's domestic cancellation fee is approximately ₹3,000–₹3,500 per passenger per sector for standard economy fares cancelled more than 24 hours before departure. Super Saver fares have higher fees or are fully non-refundable. Taxes and airport levies are refunded regardless. Always check your fare rules for the exact amount.
How long does a flight refund take in India?
DGCA guidelines require airlines to process refunds within 7 working days of cancellation. In practice, credit card refunds take 5–10 working days to appear on your statement. UPI/debit card refunds typically appear in 3–7 working days. OTA refunds can take longer — up to 15 working days — because the OTA has to receive the money from the airline before passing it to you.
Can I cancel a flight ticket after check-in?
Once you've checked in, cancellation becomes a 'no-show' in most cases, which means the highest cancellation penalty applies — often 100% of the base fare. Some premium fare classes allow cancellation post-check-in, but this is rare. If your plans have changed, cancel before check-in opens (typically 48 hours before departure for domestic, 72 hours for international).
What is a credit shell on IndiGo?
A credit shell is travel credit stored against your original PNR, usable for future IndiGo bookings. Typically valid for 12 months from the original travel date. You use it at the time of booking a new ticket by entering the original PNR. Credit shells are non-transferable and cannot be used as partial payment in some fare classes — check the conditions carefully.
Is it better to cancel a flight or not show up?
Always cancel. A no-show forfeits the entire base fare on virtually all Indian carriers. Even a non-refundable fare gives you back the airport taxes when cancelled in advance — that's typically ₹500–₹1,500 per person. The taxes alone make cancelling worth doing.
What are my rights if the airline cancels my flight?
Under DGCA regulations, you're entitled to a full refund (base fare + taxes) within 7 working days, or rebooking on the next available flight at no extra charge. The airline cannot substitute a credit shell for a cash refund when the cancellation is on their side. Be explicit when calling customer care that you want a cash refund under DGCA rules.