IndiGo fliers to pay more for last-minute ticket cancellations

You will have to pay more if you cancel your IndiGo Airlines ticket or reschedule your travel plans close to the date of journey.

You will have to pay more if you cancel your IndiGo Airlines ticket or reschedule your travel plans close to the date of journey.

The domestic carrier has changed its cancellation-cum-rebooking policy for tickets booked from April 1.

According to the new policy, a passenger cancelling a ticket more than a month before the date of travel will be charged Rs 1,250. But the traveller will have to pay Rs 2,250 if the ticket is cancelled up to 48 hours before the journey. Passengers forced to cancel a ticket less than two hours before the journey will have to let go off the entire refund, barring government taxes.

The move is likely to impact a large section of domestic fliers, as the airline caters to almost four out 10 air travellers within the country, based on its market share until February.

Until now, the airline levied a flat charge of Rs 1,500 for cancelling or rebooking a ticket. Other airlines charge between Rs 1500 and Rs 2,099, depending on the price band of the ticket.

“People usually end up calling off a journey owing to an emergency. So if I cancel my flight because someone at home has taken ill, I end up losing almost half the price of my ticket,” said Pratik Dalvi, an Andheri resident.

The airline spokesperson did not respond to HT’s calls and a text message.

The airline’s decision to increase charges for changing travel plans could have a larger impact for air travellers. Industry sources said traditionally, if one domestic airline raises charges, others tend to follow. For instance, Jet Airways had begun charging Rs 50 from fliers for e-ticket printouts in May 2012. Less than two weeks later, SpiceJet and IndiGo also introduced the charges.

“From charging separately for large leg room seats to revision of charges for excess checked-in bags airlines usually follow suit,” said a Fort-based travel operator requesting anonymity.