Denied boarding in India: Airlines may owe you Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000

Have a confirmed flight ticket but get refused boarding because the airline overbooked? DGCA rules require airlines to pay compensation in several such cases. Here is what passengers are entitled to claim.Airlines cannot simply bump passengers with confirmed tickets without consequences. Here is what DGCA denied boarding rules say about compensation, refunds and passenger rights. (Representative Image: Pexels)New Delhi,UPDATED: Sep 14, 2026 11:50 ISTIf an airline in India refuses to let you board despite having a confirmed ticket, you may be owed more than an apology or a travel voucher. DGCA rules on denied boarding require airlines to pay compensation in certain situations, particularly when passengers are bumped because a flight is overbooked.The amount depends on how quickly the airline offers an alternative flight. Yet many passengers do not know these rights, and airlines have previously been pulled up for failing to pay compensation that was legally due.DENIED BOARDING: WHAT YOU ARE OWEDThese rules apply when you have a confirmed ticket, report for the flight on time and are refused boarding because the airline has overbooked the flight.Here is the compensation structure: SituationWhat the airline owesAlternative flight within 1 hour of original departureNo compensationAlternative flight within 24 hours200% of basic one-way fare plus fuel charge, capped at Rs 10,000Alternative flight after more than 24 hours400% of basic one-way fare plus fuel charge, capped at Rs 20,000 If you do not want to take the alternative flight, the airline must provide a full ticket refund along with the applicable compensation.WHAT HAPPENS IF A FLIGHT IS CANCELLED?Cancellation compensation depends on the notice given by the airline and the circumstances of the cancellation. If the airline informs passengers at least two weeks before the scheduled departure, it must arrange an alternate flight or provide a refund, as acceptable to the passenger.If the airline informs passengers less than two weeks but up to 24 hours before departure, it must again offer an alternate flight or a refund, as acceptable to the passenger.Where the required notice is not provided, the airline must either arrange an acceptable alternate flight or provide a full refund. In applicable cases, compensation is payable in addition to the refund.The compensation for a cancellation is linked to the flight’s block time:Up to one hour: Rs 5,000 or the booked one-way basic fare plus fuel charge, whichever is lower.More than one hour and up to two hours: Rs 7,500 or the booked one-way basic fare plus fuel charge, whichever is lower.More than two hours: Rs 10,000 or the booked one-way basic fare plus fuel charge, whichever is lower.These provisions are subject to exceptions, including cancellations caused by extraordinary circumstances beyond the airline’s control, such as certain weather conditions, air-traffic-control restrictions, security risks, strikes or government orders.WHAT ABOUT LOST OR DAMAGED BAGGAGE?Passengers should retain their baggage tag and report delayed, lost or damaged baggage to the airline’s baggage desk before leaving the airport.Baggage claims are governed by separate DGCA provisions and the applicable conditions of carriage. The passenger should obtain a written complaint reference or Property Irregularity Report and preserve receipts for essential purchases made because of delayed baggage.The exact amount payable depends on the type of baggage problem and the applicable legal and contractual provisions. It is therefore safer not to state a single fixed compensation amount without identifying the relevant rule.WHAT TO DO IF YOU ARE BUMPED OFFAsk the airline for the denied boarding decision in writing. Photograph your boarding pass and the airport departure board. Send a written complaint to the airline and retain the acknowledgement.If the issue is not resolved, passengers can approach a consumer commission. Consumer complaints can generally be filed online, and a lawyer is not mandatory for small claims.The compensation is a legal entitlement when the conditions in the DGCA rules are met. However, it is not accurate to say that every passenger with a confirmed ticket who is unable to board will automatically receive compensation. The passenger must have complied with check-in requirements, the denial must generally be involuntary, and no valid safety, security, documentation or other regulatory reason should exist.- EndsPublished By: vaishnavi parasharPublished On: Sep 14, 2026 11:32 IST