Fog Cancellations in Winter 2026: What You Can Claim, What You Can't, and the Refund Rule Passengers Get Wrong
By Vihaan Patel (Vihaan Patel breaks down air-passenger rights and DGCA rules for FlightGPT, translating regulation into what travellers can actually claim.) · Published · 10 min read
Winter fog cancellations sit in a confusing middle ground: you're entitled to your money back, but generally not to compensation. Knowing the difference is what stops airlines from short-changing you.
The rule everyone gets half-right
When fog cancels a flight, two different entitlements get tangled together: the refund/rebooking entitlement and the compensation entitlement. They are not the same thing, and the most common passenger mistake is assuming that 'no compensation for weather' means 'no money back'. It doesn't.
Under India's DGCA passenger-rights framework (the Civil Aviation Requirements on facilities and refunds), if your flight is cancelled you are entitled either to a full refund of the ticket — including the unutilised portion — or to free rebooking onto an alternative flight, at your choice. This applies regardless of the cause, including weather. Fog does not let an airline keep your money.
What fog does change is the additional cash compensation. That extra payment, owed for cancellations within the airline's control, is generally not payable when the cancellation is caused by 'extraordinary circumstances' beyond the airline's control — and fog/weather is treated as exactly that. So: refund or free rebooking, yes; extra compensation, generally no.
Refund vs rebooking: it's your choice, not theirs
When a fog cancellation happens, the airline must offer you the choice between a full refund and an alternative flight. You are not obliged to accept a credit shell, a voucher, or a forced rebooking onto a much later flight if what you want is your money back. The right to a full refund to the original payment method is yours to exercise.
Equally, if you'd rather travel, you can ask to be rebooked on the next available flight at no extra fare, even if that flight's current price is higher. You should not be charged a fare difference for a rebooking necessitated by the airline's cancellation. Insist on this if an agent tries to collect a top-up.
Keep the choice explicit. If you accept a voucher under pressure at the airport, you may find it harder to later claim the cash refund you were actually entitled to. State clearly which option you want and get it in writing or via the airline's app.
What you can claim during the wait
Even when compensation isn't payable for the weather cause, the airline still owes you care while you wait. DGCA rules require carriers to provide facilities such as meals and refreshments tied to your waiting time, and hotel accommodation with transfers if an overnight wait is involved because of a cancellation or long delay. These duty-of-care obligations are not waived by fog.
So the honest split is: weather removes the cash compensation, but not the refund/rebooking right and not the duty of care. If you're stuck overnight due to a fog cancellation, you can reasonably ask for accommodation and meals per the applicable rules. Don't let 'it's weather, we owe you nothing' pass unchallenged — that statement is wrong about refunds and care.
Practical tip: keep receipts if you incur reasonable costs the airline should have covered, and note the timeline of announcements. Documentation is what turns an entitlement into an actual reimbursement.
The grey zone: was it really the weather?
Airlines lean on the weather exemption, but it only applies when weather is genuinely the cause. If the fog had cleared and the cancellation was actually about crew scheduling, aircraft positioning, or a knock-on operational decision, the 'extraordinary circumstances' defence weakens and the compensation question reopens.
This matters because cancellations during a fog spell aren't always purely weather-driven. A flight cancelled hours after visibility recovered, or one cancelled while other carriers operated the same sector, invites legitimate questions about the real cause. You're entitled to ask the airline to state the cancellation reason.
Be realistic, though: during a genuine heavy-fog event when most flights are grounded, the weather cause is clear and the compensation simply won't apply. Pick your battles — the strong claims are the ones where the weather link looks thin.
How to actually get your money back fast
Move quickly and through the right channel. Request the refund or rebooking via the airline's app or website first, since that creates a record and is usually fastest. If you booked through a travel agent or online platform, the refund typically has to be processed back through that same booking channel — pushing the airline directly can stall when a third party holds the booking.
Refunds are meant to be processed within defined timelines under the rules (commonly tied to the payment mode), so if the money doesn't appear, follow up with the cancellation reference and escalate. DGCA's AirSewa grievance platform exists for unresolved complaints, and a clear, documented timeline strengthens your case.
For more on passenger rights and seasonal disruption planning, see the blog. And always verify the current DGCA rules and your specific airline's contract of carriage on their official site, since exact amounts, timelines and conditions can be updated.
Reduce your fog risk before you fly
Prevention beats claims. In peak North India fog season — roughly late December through January — early-morning departures from Delhi, Lucknow, Amritsar, Varanasi and similar airports are the most cancellation- and delay-prone. Booking a late-morning or midday flight, when visibility has usually improved, materially cuts your disruption odds.
For trips you can't afford to have wrecked, a more flexible fare or refundable option can be worth the premium in fog season, since it lets you reschedule without fees if the forecast turns. The cheapest non-refundable fare is a false economy on a fog-prone winter morning slot.
And keep buffers: don't book a tight connection or a same-day onward commitment around a fog-season morning flight. The refund protects your ticket money, but it can't recover a missed wedding or a forfeited hotel night — that's on your planning, not the airline.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get a refund if fog cancels my flight in India?
Yes. Under DGCA rules, a cancelled flight entitles you to either a full refund of the ticket including the unused portion, or free rebooking onto an alternative flight, at your choice. This applies regardless of cause, including fog and weather.
Do airlines pay compensation for weather cancellations?
Generally no. The extra cash compensation owed for cancellations within the airline's control is not payable for 'extraordinary circumstances' beyond its control, and fog/weather is treated that way. You still keep your refund or free-rebooking right.
Can I choose a refund instead of being rebooked after a fog cancellation?
Yes. The choice between a full refund to your original payment method and a free alternative flight is yours, not the airline's. Don't accept a voucher under pressure if you actually want the cash refund.
Does the airline owe me food or a hotel during a fog delay?
Yes. Duty-of-care obligations for meals, refreshments and, for overnight waits, hotel accommodation with transfers still apply during weather cancellations. These are separate from cash compensation and are not waived by fog.
What if the fog had cleared but my flight was still cancelled?
Then the weather defence may not hold. If the real cause was crew, aircraft positioning or an operational decision, the compensation question can reopen. You can ask the airline to state the official cancellation reason.
How do I claim a refund for a cancelled flight?
Request it through the airline's app or website with the cancellation reference, or through your booking agent or platform if you booked there. If it's not processed within the required timeline, escalate, and use DGCA's AirSewa grievance platform for unresolved complaints.