Indian OTA Refund Policies Compared 2026 — MakeMyTrip vs Yatra vs Cleartrip vs ixigo vs EaseMyTrip
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 · 10 min read
MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Cleartrip, ixigo and EaseMyTrip all charge convenience fees, processing fees and cancellation charges on top of what the airline itself charges. Here is a clear 2026 comparison of what each OTA's refund policy actually says and how it plays out.
What this article covers
Why OTA refunds are messier than airline refunds
MakeMyTrip — the convenience fee, the MMT cancellation fee and the assured refund products
Yatra — the corporate booking experience and the consumer refund timeline
Cleartrip — the Flipkart integration and the refund timeline
ixigo — the lowest convenience fees and the AssuredFlex add-on
EaseMyTrip — the no-convenience-fee positioning and what's behind it
Comparison table — what to expect when you cancel a domestic economy ticket
Dispute resolution — what to do when the OTA does not refund
The cancellation protection add-ons — do they pay back?
Practical guidance for picking an OTA in 2026
Frequently asked questions
Which OTA has the lowest convenience fee for domestic flight bookings in 2026?
EaseMyTrip markets itself as the no-convenience-fee OTA and typically charges 0 to 50 rupees per passenger as convenience fee on domestic bookings — meaningfully lower than the 150 to 300 rupees charged by MakeMyTrip, Yatra, Cleartrip and ixigo. The trade-off is that EaseMyTrip's cancellation fees and processing fees on certain payment modes are comparable to competitors. For one-way bookings with no expected cancellation, EaseMyTrip is typically the cheapest.
If I cancel my ticket on MakeMyTrip, how long does the refund take?
MakeMyTrip's published refund timeline is 7 to 14 working days for credit card refunds and 7 to 21 days for net banking and UPI. The clock starts from the date MMT initiates the refund to the airline, and includes the airline's own refund processing time plus MMT's processing time. If the refund is delayed beyond this window, demand the airline's refund reference number (ARN) from MMT and escalate to MMT grievance at grievance@makemytrip.com, then AirSewa at airsewa.gov.in.
Are convenience fees refundable when I cancel an OTA flight booking?
Generally no. The convenience fee charged by the OTA at the time of booking — typically 150 to 300 rupees per passenger — is treated as a service charge for facilitating the booking and is not refundable when you cancel the ticket. The same applies to processing fees on certain payment modes. The airline's base fare and taxes are refundable subject to the airline's own cancellation fee, but the OTA fee layer is generally lost.
What is the AssuredFlex or Cancellation Protect add-on and is it worth buying?
All major OTAs sell a cancellation protection add-on at 199 to 399 rupees per passenger per sector. It typically waives the OTA's own cancellation fee (250 to 500 rupees) but does not waive the airline's own cancellation fee (3,000 to 4,000 rupees on domestic economy). For most travellers it is not worth buying as a routine add-on, unless you have specific reason to expect a cancellation. It is best framed as OTA-side insurance, not full-cancellation insurance.
If the OTA says my refund was processed but I have not received it, what do I do?
Demand the bank reference number or ARN (Acquirer Reference Number) of the refund transaction. Every OTA can produce this — it is the unique identifier of the credit to your bank account or card. Pass the ARN to your bank or card issuer to trace the credit. If the ARN is genuine but the credit is missing, the bank can investigate. If the OTA cannot produce an ARN, the refund was not actually processed and you should escalate.
Can I dispute an OTA charge with my credit card if the refund is delayed?
Yes, you can file a chargeback dispute with your credit card issuer for delayed or denied refunds. The chargeback window is typically 120 days from the original transaction date or 60 days from the expected refund date. You will need to document the booking, the cancellation, the published refund timeline, the breach and the OTA's failure to resolve. Card issuers generally side with the consumer when documentation is clear, though the OTA may then pursue the disputed amount through other channels.
Does the National Consumer Helpline at 1915 help with OTA refund disputes?
Yes, the NCH at 1915 or ncphelpline.gov.in is one of the most effective escalation channels for OTA disputes in India. NCH does not adjudicate the claim but it routes the complaint to the OTA and requires a response within a stipulated timeline. Companies are publicly tracked on their response rates, which creates meaningful resolution pressure. NCH is particularly useful for refund delays and convenience fee disputes that are below the threshold for a consumer forum filing.
Is it better to book directly with the airline rather than through an OTA?
For straightforward bookings with no expected cancellation, OTAs are typically competitive because of wallet credits, coupons and bank discounts. For complex bookings, multi-city, international with stopovers, or bookings where cancellation is likely, direct airline booking is generally better because the refund flow is two-party (you and the airline) rather than three-party, the dispute resolution is cleaner, and the airline's own cancellation policy is the only one that applies — no additional OTA cancellation fee.