So, you finally got your hands on the cheap flights to India that you’ve been looking for for ages. Everything was going well, and you were excited about your trip until the airline decided to cancel the flight. Or maybe they changed your departure time, so now there is no way your flight will land in time for your connecting flight. Don’t these scenarios sound like something straight out of your worst nightmare?
It is pretty common, if not regular, for airlines to cancel or change flights, sometimes even after you are done with your Air India check in. If you are a frequent flyer, then you must have encountered such a situation at least once in your life. Although your flights are only canceled seldom when the situation is completely out of hand, say bad weather conditions, flight delays are actually fairly common. Whether you are a frequent flyer or not, there is no way that you’ve never experienced a change in your flight schedule.
Now, although common, any changes or even delays are neither welcome nor convenient. In case of a cancellation, there is still a chance that you will be able to at least book a new flight. However, in case of any changes to the schedule, you don’t only get delayed, you also risk missing out on a connecting flight, if there is any. A delay might not be so bad, but missing a connecting flight is quite an inconvenience. So you are wondering, what can you do in case your flight is canceled or changed. Well, the answer is not simple. Depending on the situation, there will always be a different solution to the problem.
Here, we have broken down how or why your flights to India might be canceled or changed, and what choices you have depending on the situation. Let’s begin by answering some basic questions and then take it from there.
What are my options when the airline cancels my flight?
Canceled flights can wreak havoc on your travel plans and completely throw off all your plans. At times it might be a minor inconvenience, but at times they can cause serious problems for you. Under normal conditions, airlines are required to inform passengers about cancellations at least two weeks in advance. However, that may not always be the case. Here is a list of options you have, whether or not your flight is canceled in due time.
Canceled two weeks prior to departure:
In this case, airlines are responsible for offering passengers a new flight option or refund the full amount of their tickets. This is the most convenient scenario out of all, as in this case, passengers have enough time to book a new flight if they need to. They also get the entire amount they pay for their flight tickets without any problems.
Canceled less than two weeks prior to departure:
In case the airline does not inform you about the cancellation two weeks in advance, but up to 24 hours before the time of departure, the airline is responsible for offering you a new flight option or refund the full amount you paid for your tickets. Although the procedure is the same in this case, the level of inconvenience does go up as you may not have sufficient time to rebook your flight.
Canceled without any intimation:
Say you are done with your Air India check-in and the airline does not inform you that your flight has been canceled and fails to follow the standard procedure, the airline will be responsible for booking you another flight that might be convenient for you. You will also get a refund for the ticket amount, along with compensation for the inconvenience. Although this is quite rare, this is a possibility, and in most cases, the airline will do their best to make sure that you are not inconvenienced any more than you have to be.
What are my options when the airline changes or delays my flight?
There might be a million reasons as to why your flight was changed or delayed, but none of those reasons are convenient for passengers. No matter what the scenario may be, it will involve a good amount of hassle on the part of the passenger. So, here are some scenarios that you may encounter, and the solution to them.
If my flight is delayed or changed by two hours:
In this case, as the waiting time is short, passengers will be provided with refreshments or meals. Airlines will not refund the flight tickets in this case, and passengers will be inconvenienced. Such minor delays are considerably frequent, so you must take such changes into account when you book your flight tickets. Such a case may even occur after you are done with your Air India check-in.
In case the flight is delayed or changed by more than six hours:
In such a scenario the airline will need to provide you with another flight in case of a delay. In case the change of flight is not suitable for you and the airline fails to inform you about the change more than 24 hours in advance, they will need to refund your flight ticket. The refund will be made in full, and the airline will not be able to deduct any fee from this amount.
When the flight is delayed or changed more than 24 hours in advance:
When the airline communicates any delays or changes to the passengers in advance, they are liable to provide the passenger with hotel accommodations if necessary. Depending on the airline and its regulations, a full refund might or might not be made. In either case, passengers may get in touch with the airline, and they will do their best to assist the passengers.
What compensation can I claim from the airline?
If the airline does not inform passengers of the changes or cancellations in time, they are liable to provide compensation to the passengers. However, the compensation that you get varies depending on the airline and the guidelines set by the government. The compensation may be monetary or in the form of vouchers for a discount or other activities. Additionally, the customers will also be provided with a meal or accommodations or even transport if there is a need. Sufficient information needs to be provided at the time of booking to claim monetary compensation.
Do I get a refund if I miss my connecting flight?
When you have booked your flights with separate airlines, there is a very slight chance that your tickets for the connecting flight will be refunded. That is why passengers are always advised to book with one airline. When passengers book with separate airlines, one of them might refuse to take responsibility for any issues that may arise. However, if you have booked with one airline, they will need to take responsibility for any cancellation or changes and provide compensation or refund for your tickets.
When do I get my refund?
This is the last step of the process. When you get a refund for your flight tickets, the processing of the payment may take a while. The time it takes for the amount to be reflected in your account depends on your bank and the airlines. Normally, the payment should be made within a week. However, in the case of too many pending claims, the wait may increase slightly.
Now that you know everything that can be done when your flight is delayed or changed by the airline, you are ready for any unforeseen problems when you book your cheap flights to India. Always know your rights in such a case, and refer to this anytime you encounter such a situation.
