Flight Delay Compensation in India: Your Rights and What to Do Next
Your flight is delayed, and the departure board keeps changing. Before you pay for another meal or book a hotel, find out what the airline has to provide.
Delays in India can be huge. In just three days in December 2025, IndiGo cancelled 2,507 flights and delayed 1,852 more, affecting over 300,000 passengers (Government of India, PIB). In moments like that, knowing your rights saves time and money.
Quick answer: In India, a flight delay does not earn an automatic cash payment. Under DGCA rules, depending on the delay, you can get free meals, an alternate flight or a full refund, and a hotel for very long or overnight delays. Cash compensation applies to certain cancellations and denied boarding, under separate conditions.
This guide covers the essentials for Indian travelers. For delay rights in Europe, the UK and the US, read "Your flight is delayed. Here's what you're actually owed" in our Travel Smart by Travel VIP newsletter on LinkedIn.
What are your rights when a flight is delayed in India?
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sets out passenger protections in its Civil Aviation Requirements, Section 3, Series M, Part IV. What you get depends on how long the delay is, the flight's scheduled duration, whether you checked in on time and what caused the disruption.
When should the airline give you meals and refreshments?
If you checked in on time, the airline must provide meals and refreshments once the expected departure delay reaches these thresholds:
Scheduled block time | Expected delay |
Up to 2.5 hours | At least 2 hours |
2.5 to 5 hours | At least 3 hours |
More than 5 hours | At least 4 hours |
Block time runs from when the aircraft first moves for departure until it stops after landing, so it's longer than the time in the air.
Ask at the airline counter for a meal voucher. If you buy food yourself, keep the receipts, though reimbursement isn't guaranteed.
Can you get a refund for a delayed domestic flight?
Yes, for a domestic flight expected to be delayed by more than 6 hours. The airline must offer you an alternate flight within 6 hours of the original departure time, or a full refund. The choice is yours, so ask for both options in writing before you accept either.
When does a delay qualify for a hotel?
The airline must arrange a hotel, including transfers, when:
the delay is more than 24 hours, or
the delay is more than 6 hours for a flight scheduled to depart between 8 pm and 3 am.
These benefits are subject to the regulation's conditions and exceptions for extraordinary circumstances. Ask the airline which rule applies to your disruption. You can read the details in the official DGCA passenger rights regulation.
Is delay compensation the same as cancellation compensation?
No. A delayed flight, a cancelled flight and being bumped from a flight (denied boarding) each have their own rules. A late flight doesn't automatically become a cancellation claim.
Cancelled flights
If the airline cancels without enough notice, it can offer an acceptable alternate flight, or a refund plus compensation. The compensation caps depend on block time:
Scheduled block time | Compensation cap |
Up to 1 hour | ₹5,000 |
1 to 2 hours | ₹7,500 |
More than 2 hours | ₹10,000 |
You receive the cap or the basic one-way fare plus fuel charge, whichever is lower. Compensation generally isn't due if you were told at least two weeks ahead, or if the cancellation was caused by extraordinary circumstances such as bad weather.
Denied boarding
If you're bumped from a flight against your will, usually because of overbooking:
Alternate flight within 24 hours: 200% of the basic fare plus fuel charge, capped at ₹10,000.
Alternate flight after 24 hours: 400% of the basic fare plus fuel charge, capped at ₹20,000.
These are conditional caps, not guaranteed payments. Check the DGCA regulation for the full conditions.
What to do as soon as your flight is delayed
A few simple steps make it easier to get help now and to claim later.
Save the airline's updates. Screenshot the original time, the new time and every delay message.
Ask for the reason. Get it in writing if you can, because the cause can decide what you're owed.
Keep your documents and receipts. Save your ticket, boarding pass and itemised receipts for food, transport and hotels.
Check your options before taking a voucher. Find out whether you're entitled to a refund, and what accepting travel credit would mean.
Review your insurance, card and membership benefits. Delay triggers, exclusions and proof needed vary by plan.
Note your actual arrival time. Some international compensation rules count the delay at arrival, not departure.
How to escalate a complaint
Complain to the airline first, in writing, and keep the complaint reference number. If it isn't resolved, file a grievance on AirSewa, the Ministry of Civil Aviation's passenger complaint portal.
Are international flight delay rights different?
Yes. Your route and the airline operating the flight decide which rules apply.
Europe: under EU passenger rights rules, arriving 3 or more hours late can earn up to €600 in compensation, depending on distance. A reform of these rules was cleared in July 2026 but isn't in force yet.
UK: under UK rules, the maximum is £520.
United States: DOT refund rules give you a refund if your flight is cancelled or significantly changed and you decline the alternative. That includes a scheduled arrival at least 3 hours late on domestic flights or 6 hours late on international flights.
Most international trips: the Montreal Convention lets you recover proven costs caused by a delay, up to a set limit.
Eligibility, distance and exceptions for extraordinary circumstances all matter. Our LinkedIn guide explains each region in detail, including reduced long-haul awards.
Watch out for separate tickets
If your connection is booked on two separate tickets, the second airline usually doesn't have to help when the first flight makes you miss it. Book the whole trip on one ticket where possible, or leave a long buffer, especially during North India's winter fog season.
Where does Travel VIP DelayCare fit in?
Knowing your passenger rights tells you what to ask the airline for. Travel VIP's DelayCare adds separate help for eligible travelers during qualifying disruptions, including airport lounge access under the applicable benefit.
If DelayCare is included in your booking or membership, check your eligibility and how to activate it. Benefits depend on your plan and availability, and DelayCare doesn't replace your airline refund or compensation rights.
Frequently asked questions about flight delays in India
Can I claim cash compensation for a delayed flight in India?
Not for a delay on its own. DGCA rules don't set a fixed cash payment for delays. Depending on eligibility, you can get meals, an alternate flight, a refund or a hotel. Cancellations, denied boarding, insurance and international claims follow different rules.
Does IndiGo or Air India pay compensation for delays?
Every Indian airline must follow the same DGCA rules: meals, a refund or alternate flight, and a hotel where the thresholds are met. Cash is due only for qualifying cancellations or denied boarding. If the airline doesn't resolve your complaint, escalate it on AirSewa.
Does a 2-hour delay always mean a free meal?
No. The 2-hour threshold applies to flights with a block time of up to 2.5 hours, and only if you checked in on time. Longer flights have 3-hour or 4-hour thresholds.
Can I get a refund if my flight is delayed by 6 hours?
Yes, for a domestic flight expected to be delayed by more than 6 hours. The airline must offer an alternate flight within 6 hours of the original time, or a full refund.
When will the airline give me a hotel?
When the delay is more than 24 hours, or more than 6 hours for a flight scheduled to depart between 8 pm and 3 am.
What happens if a delay makes me miss a connection?
Check whether both flights are on one booking. A connection on separate tickets usually doesn't get the same protection. Ask your airline, booking provider and insurer what help applies.
Where can I complain about a flight delay in India?
Complain to the airline first and keep the reference number. If it isn't resolved, file a grievance on AirSewa, the government's passenger complaint portal.
Read the full flight delay guide on LinkedIn
Want to know when a delay earns cash compensation, how the rules change overseas and what proof to keep?
Read "Your flight is delayed. Here's what you're actually owed" in Travel Smart by Travel VIP, our weekly LinkedIn newsletter. It covers why flights run late, passenger rights in India, Europe, the UK and the US, and a first-hour checklist for your next trip.
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