Here’s a detailed and up-to-date summary of Air India’s traveler compensation policies, grounded in verified sources and official guidelines:
Under India’s Ministry of Civil Aviation Passenger Charter and DGCA Civil Aviation Requirements:
- Delays:
- ≥2 hrs: Complimentary meals & refreshments
- ≥6 hrs: Alternate flight within 6 hrs or full refund, and hotel + transfers if overnight & delay after 8 pm or before 3 am (business-standard.com, news18.com).
- Cancellations:
- Provide alternate flight or full refund
- Plus compensation ₹5,000–₹10,000, depending on notice and inconvenience (news18.com, business-standard.com).
- Denied Boarding/Overbooking:
- If rebooked within 1 hr: no compensation
- Otherwise: ₹10,000 (200% of fare) for <24 hrs delay, or ₹20,000 (400%) if >24 hrs or refusal of alternative offer (skyrefund.com).
International & EU-Specific Compensation
- EU Flights (Regulation EC 261/2004):
- Delays of 3+ hrs, cancellations <14 days notice, or denied boarding ➝ €250–600 per passenger based on flight distance (skyrefund.com, skycop.com).
- International Flights (Outside EU):
- Governed by Montreal Convention for baggage and accident liability:
- Baggage loss/damage: up to ~1,288 SDR (~US $1,700) (skyrefund.com, en.wikipedia.org).
- Passenger injury/death: up to 128,821 SDR (~US $175,000), no-fault compensation .
- Governed by Montreal Convention for baggage and accident liability:
Baggage Compensation
- Delayed/Missing Baggage:
- Damaged/missing baggage covered under Montreal limits.
- Must file a PIR (Property Irregularity Report) immediately (lexority.com).
- On-time Delivery Failures:
- Compensation based on delayed essentials purchases; typical compensation seen in Reddit stories ranges from US $100–400 (contextual) (reddit.com).
Flight Disruption Support
- For delays/cancellations, travelers can request a Flight Disruption Statement via Air India’s website (requires ≥15 mins delay) for insurance claims (airindia.com).
- Air India covers rebooking, refunds, and often waives change or cancellation fees during disruptions like Airspace shutdowns (economictimes.indiatimes.com).
Crash-Related Compensation
Following the Ahmedabad Dreamliner tragedy on June 12, 2025:
- Tata Group & Air India announced ₹1 crore per victim family, plus ₹25 lakh interim relief and trauma counseling, totaling ₹1.25 cr (~US $150,000) (timesofindia.indiatimes.com, ft.com).
Grievance Redressal
Air India provides a clear escalation path:
- Customer Support portal
- Nodal Officer – Mr. Abdesh Kumar (via email)
- Appellate Authority – Ms. Bhavna Tiwari (via email)
- Escalate to DGCA or AirSewa if unresolved (airindia.com).
Summary Table
| Disruption Type | Passenger Entitlement |
|---|---|
| Domestic Delay | Meals (2 hrs+), alternate flight/refund + hotel (6 hrs+) |
| Domestic Cancellation | Rebooking/refund + ₹5k–₹10k compensation |
| Denied Boarding | ₹10k (<24 hrs) or ₹20k (>24 hrs) |
| EU/International Delay/Cancellation | €250–600 per EC261/2004 (EU flights only) |
| Baggage Loss/Damage | Montreal Convention: up to ~1,288 SDR (~US $1,700) |
| Death/Injury (Intl) | Montreal Convention: up to 128,821 SDR (~US $175k) |
| Crash Compensation | ₹1.25 crore interim compensation & counseling (Ahmedabad tragedy) |
Recommendations for Travelers
- Keep documents: boarding passes, emails, PIRs, receipts.
- Request a Flight Disruption Statement for insurance.
- Use proper channels: customer portal → nodal officer → appellate authority → DGCA or AirSewa.
- Expect interim payouts for severe incidents like crashes.
Air India’s compensation framework aligns with DGCA rules, EU regulations, and international treaties, offering a layered safety net. For issues unresolved by the airline, travelers can escalate via DGCA or consumer forums.
