Downgraded involuntarily: Airlines to refund up to 75% of ticket cost to flyers; DGCA amends rules

NEW DELHI: Passengers who were accidentally downgraded — meaning traveling in a lower class than they booked and paid for — will now receive a 75% refund for domestic flights and up to 75% for international flights. General Department of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revised the rules regarding “facilities provided by airlines to passengers due to boarding denials, flight cancellations and flight delays” to “enhance the rights of passengers to travel by plane.” affected by the downgrade of their ticket”.
“The amendment will allow passengers who are accidentally downgraded and fly in a lower class than their purchased fare, to be refunded by the airline as follows: For domestic sectors: 75% of fare inclusive of tax. For International Routes: 30% of fare inclusive of tax for routes of 1500 km or less; 50% of fares include tax for flights between 1500 km and 3500 km and 75% of fares include tax for flights over 3500 km,” a DGCA official said.
Downgrade means that passengers booked in first class, business class or premium economy must fly in a lower class than they booked and paid for. The regulator last year directed airlines to only sell seats that were unusable and not those that had been out of service for a while. While there will always be a certain number of seats that become unusable at the last minute, the regulator has issued a directive essentially to airlines with older fleets that have not invested in the product. on their planes for many years resulting in a higher than normal number of unserviceable seats.