Airlines may be required to fly a passenger for free and refund the full value of the ticket in the event of an involuntary downgrade in the booked class of ticket. Involuntary downgrade is when a passenger who has booked a first class, business class or premium economy ticket is downgraded to a lower class at the time of check-in.
India currently does not have rules for such downgrades, whereas in western markets passengers are entitled to refunds. The current deliberations by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) could be the most consumer friendly in the world.
The aviation regulator said on Friday it is in the process of amending rules to compensate flyers who were denied their right to travel the class of their choice.
