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How to Get Compensation for Domestic Flight Disruptions in India?

Team AckoDec 5, 2025

Domestic air travel in India has experienced significant growth over the past few years. But so have flight delays, cancellations, and operational disruptions. On December 4, 2025, more than 200 flights were cancelled in a single day across India. Thousands of passengers were stuck at major airports, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Sudden crew shortages, air-traffic congestion, and operational hurdles had caused widespread chaos. This reminds travellers how unpredictable flying can be. Learn how compensation works for domestic flight disruptions in India and why the ACKO Air Pass is the smarter choice. Its benefits are credited automatically. You don't need to take any redemption steps.
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Contents

Why are flights being cancelled across India?
How ACKO Air Pass Can Help With Flight Disruptions?
How to Claim Compensation From Airlines?
Wrapping Up
Frequently asked questions

Why are flights being cancelled across India?

On 4 December, around 200 flights were cancelled due to operational issues, a reminder of how unpredictable flight disruptions can be in India. And this wasn’t an isolated incident; many different situations can unexpectedly disrupt travel plans. Here are the other situations that cause Flight disruptions in India:

Weather-Related Disruptions: Imagine dense fog at dawn covering the entire runway, making takeoffs impossible and causing passengers to watch “DELAYED” flash repeatedly on their screens. Or sudden coastal storms forced aircraft to circle above cities or divert to far-off airports, turning short journeys into long, tiring detours.
Technical Glitches: A single faulty sensor or a routine system check failure grounded flights for hours, leaving hundreds of travellers waiting without moving an inch.
Staff Shortages & Crew Issues: When Flight crews are stuck in other cities due to earlier delays, it results in no available crew for the next flight. Or the Ground staff stretched thin, juggling long queues, crowd control, and rescheduled flights.
Ripple Effect of Earlier Delays: With one delayed incoming flight, a chain reaction was triggered, causing subsequent flights to take off late, miss connections, and leading to airport congestion.
Passenger Impact Across All Travel Types: Families travelling for weddings, students heading home, tourists exploring new places, and business travellers. All are facing the same uncertainty as announcements shifted between hope and disappointment.

How ACKO Air Pass Can Help With Flight Disruptions?

Airlines often take weeks to process claims. Compensation is approved only in a limited number of cases. That’s why travellers across India must choose a simpler way to stay protected. Choose ACKO AirPass and get compensated automatically when your flight gets delayed or cancelled*.

ACKO AirPass is designed for modern travellers who value convenience and certainty. If more than 200 flights can be cancelled in a day, as we just witnessed, being prepared isn’t optional; it’s necessary. An ACKO air pass benefits you with:

Cashback - Your flight is delayed by 90 minutes or more? Get ₹1500 cashback in your bank account.
Flight Cancellations - Flight cancelled by the airline? You will receive a flat discount of ₹3000 on your flight fare.
Missed Flight - Missed your flight? You will receive a 50% discount on the flight fare (capped at ₹ 3,000) when you rebook a new flight with us.
Welcome Gift - You will also receive a welcome gift worth ₹999.

Let’s see how the ACKO Air Pass helped Arun

Arun had an important meeting in Delhi, one he simply couldn’t afford to miss. Determined to avoid any last-minute chaos, he reached the Bengaluru airport a full four hours early, feeling confident that he had everything under control. But the moment he looked up at the airport display board, his heart sank. His flight was “DELAYED”. Around him, other passengers were already forming long queues, frustrated and arguing with airline staff. Some sat near the boarding gates, tired and restless, spending extra money on food as they waited for updates that never seemed to come.

Amid all this uncertainty, Arun remembered something he had almost taken for granted his Acko Air Pass. Arun received an instant cashback of ₹ 1,500 credited to his bank account. In a situation where everything felt unpredictable, one thing stayed steady: Acko had his back. And that’s how Arun made it to his meeting with less stress, less expense, and a quiet sense of victory in the middle of chaos.

Compensation for Flight Cancellations and Delays

Flight disruptions can ruin your travel plans, derail business meetings, cause missed connections, and add unnecessary stress. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) mandates clear rules to protect passengers from last-minute surprises. Whether your flight is delayed, cancelled, or you’re denied boarding, airlines are required to provide certain benefits.

A. Compensation for Flight Cancellations

If your flight gets cancelled by an airline:

More than 24 hours before departure: The airline must offer a full refund or a free alternative flight.
Less than 24 hours before departure: You may be eligible for compensation up to ₹10,000, depending on the airline’s policy and ticket price.

Note: If cancellation leads to an overnight delay, the airline must provide free meals, hotel accommodation, and airport transfers.

B. Compensation for Flight Delays

If your flight is delayed:

More than 2 hours delay: Passengers must receive complimentary meals and refreshments.
More than 6 hours delay: Airlines must offer a new flight or a full refund.
Delay of 24 hours or more: Airlines must provide hotel accommodation.

C. Denied Boarding

If you are denied boarding due to overbooking:

Airlines must arrange an alternate flight within 1 hour
Offer ₹5,000 to ₹20,000 compensation depending on the delay and ticket cost.

D. Compensation for Missed Connecting Flights

If you miss a connecting flight due to the airline’s fault (such as delay, rescheduling, or operational issues):

The airline must arrange the next available flight at no additional cost.
If the delay causes a waiting time of more than 3 hours, passengers may be eligible for compensation as per airline policy (often up to ₹10,000, depending on fare and delay duration).
If the missed connection results in an overnight delay, the airline must provide free meals, hotel accommodation, and airport transfers.

Note: Airlines must reimburse reasonable expenses for essential items (subject to limits defined in their policy) if baggage is delayed due to the missed connection.

How to Claim Compensation From Airlines?

Here is a step-by-step method to ensure you get what you’re entitled to:

Collect Evidence: Keep the following items handy: boarding pass, Ticket copy, and Delay/cancellation notification SMS or email.
Approach the Airline Counter: Always speak to the airline staff at the airport first. Ask clearly about Refund options, Meal vouchers, Accommodation arrangements and Compensation eligibility.
File a Complaint With the Airline: If the issue is not resolved at the airport, submit a complaint through the Airline's website, Customer support, or Grievance form. Keep a record of emails and complaint numbers.
Escalate to DGCA: If the airline does not respond within 30 days, you can file a complaint with DGCA via the AirSewa portal or mobile app.
Consider Insurance-Based Compensation: Many travellers prefer a quicker and more predictable alternative, one that pays independent of airline approval, making the process hassle-free.

Wrapping Up

Recent flight disruptions in India, such as a day with over 200 flight cancellations, underscore the importance of travellers being prepared. This is especially true when navigating the often time-consuming airline paperwork required for compensation. An alternative to traditional compensation claims is to use an automated service like ACKO Domestic AirPass to get compensation for flight delays or cancellations.

Frequently asked questions

What proof do I need for a flight disruption claim?

To prove your claim for compensation regarding a domestic flight disruption, the following documentation is required: your flight tickets and boarding passes, as well as a written confirmation or email communication from the airline acknowledging the delay.

Is there any time limit to claim for delayed flights in India?

To be eligible for compensation under DGCA rules for cancelled domestic flights, you must file your claim within the two-year time limit for flight delay compensation.

Can I get compensation for a delayed domestic flight?

You are eligible for compensation if your domestic flight arrives at its destination 3 or more hours late, provided the delay is the airline's responsibility. Examples of airline-fault delays include insufficient bookings or technical issues.

What expenses can I claim due to the delay?

In addition to monetary compensation for a flight disruption, the airline may also reimburse you for any extra expenses, such as food, beverages, transportation, and hotel accommodations. Determining your eligibility for reimbursement of these additional costs can sometimes be challenging.

Why Should You Buy a Domestic Travel Pass from ACKO?

Get Year-Round Flight Support with one purchase for all domestic flights. ACKO Air Pass offers instant assistance, including the convenience of new ticket booking without the need for forms. Ideal for frequent domestic flyers (business travellers, etc.), it fits your Lifestyle and offers high value, saving you money (e.g., ₹3,000 per missed flight) for a smooth, stress-free flying experience all year.

How to avail the benefits of the ACKO AirPass?

You don’t even have to make an effort to get your AirPass benefits if the flight is cancelled or delayed, as the process is automated.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is generic and shared only for informational and explanatory purposes. It is based on several secondary sources on the internet, and is subject to changes. Please check the policy document for cancellation reasons, and terms and conditions of the policy.