If you are wondering how much Air India charges for cancellation, this guide is for you. Specific rules apply based on the region of travel, elite status, and time of cancellation. Also, how can you make changes or cancel an Air India Award? Let me break it down for you.
How to cancel or change an Air India Award Flight?
Cancelling or changing an Air India or Star Alliance flight booked using Flying Returns Points can be done by submitting a request online, calling customer care, or visiting Air India booking offices.
Flying Returns Customer Care Numbers:
- 01169329333
- 01159329999
- 18602331407
Reduced Reschedule Charges for Flying Returns Elites
Reduced rescheduling charges are also available to Air India elite tier mstarembers on reward tickets. These benefits are only available on Air India flights.
- Domestic Award Flight Reschedule Benefits:
- Red: No Benefit
- Silver: One change allowed at INR 1K+GST
- Gold: One complimentary change.
- Platinum: Two complimentary changes.
- International Award Flight Reschedule Benefits:
- Red: No Benefit.
- Silver: No Benefit.
- Gold: One complimentary change.
- Platinum: Two complimentary changes.
Domestic flight changes should be made at least 24 hours before departure. International flight changes should be made 72 hours before departure for gold members, whereas platinum members can do so at least 24 hours before departure.
These benefits are on an overall basis. i.e., not separately for reward flights and revenue flights.
Reduced Cancellation Charges for Flying Returns Elites
Besides reduced rescheduling charges, Air India flying rbooeturns elites also get reduced cancellation charges. However, only on domestic flights.
- Domestic Award Flight Cancellation Benefits:
- Red: No Benefit
- Silver: No Benefit
- Gold: Flat Fees of INR 1199+GST
- Platinum: Complimentary
These benefits are only available up to 24 hours before departure. No benefit is extended on cancellation of international flight departures.
Elite Tier Benefits [Summary]
| Tier | Domestic Changes | Domestic Cancellation | International Changes |
| Red | Standard Charges Apply | Standard Charges Apply | Standard Charges Apply |
| Silver | 1*INR 1199+GST (Before 24H) | Standard Charges Apply | Standard Charges Apply |
| Gold | 1 Free (Before 24H) | Flat Fees INR 1199+GST | 1 Free (Before 72H) |
| Platinum | 2 Free (Before 24H) | Free | 2 Free (Before 24H) |
Free Cancellation for All Members
Flights within India and from/to US can be cancelled free of charge within 24 hours of booking only if the departure date is at least seven days later—this is applicable on both Air India and Star Alliance award flights.
Fare Difference on Rescheduled Award Flights
Air India has a dynamic award for economy flights. If you booked a higher but later found an award flight at a lower fare and want to reschedule to save points, it would not work. In the case of your rescheduled flights, points are not credited back. Instead, you will have to pay the rescheduled fees.
For example, the DEL-LHR flight cost 43K points on 13th October 24. Now, if you want to change the date to 20th January 2024, which will cost 30K points, then you will have to pay rescheduling charges on 43K points, let’s say, which are at 15%. So, your total flight cost would be 49450 points.
So, you need additional points to make any changes to your flight.
For such cases, if we cancel the old flight and book a new one, cancellation charges would be a maximum of 30%, which would be 12900 in our case and another 30K for a new award flight, keeping the total at 43K points. The only issue is whether a new flight would be available at 30K. In case you don’t have the additional points then you won’t be able to change your flight and may have to transfer or earn Air India Points.
Such case would not occur on a Business Class & First Class or Star Alliance award flights as those have fixed points requirements. So, for premium cabins or star alliance flights you would need to pay additional points on flight change.
Refund of Miles on No-Show
Usually, a No-Show means you didn’t show up for your flight. However, this window has been extended for Air India award changes or cancellations and can start 24 hours before departure.
During the No-Show period, you can’t change your award flight. The only option is to cancel the award, and you will only get your taxes back.
Applicable Starting No-Show Window Period with the country:
- 2 Hours till Departure: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives & Myanmar.
- 4 Hours till Departure:
- Asia: Singapore, Thailand, HongKong
- Middle East: United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar
- Africa: Kenya
- 24 Hours till Departure:
- Other countries including Japan, South Korea, the USA, Canada, Germany, and France.
- Star Alliance flights
Charges on Award Changes
Air India charges for award changes depending on when you cancel your flight. There are only two charges: 15% or 25%.
- Domestic Flight, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, HongKong, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar & Kenya:
- More than 72 hours: 15%
- within 72 hours of departure: 25%
- Europe,UK, Australia, Canada, USA, Japan & Korea:
- More than 7 Days: 15%
- Within 7 Days of departure: 25%
- Star Alliance:
- More than 7 Days: 15%
- Within 7 Days of departure: 25%
Charges on Award Cancellation
Even the award cancellation charges depend on when you cancel your flight. There are only two charges: 20% or 30% for award changes.
- Domestic Flight, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Thailand, HongKong, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar & Kenya:
- More than 72 hours: 20%
- within 72 hours of departure: 30%
- Europe,UK, Australia, Canada, USA, Japan & Korea:
- More than 7 Days: 20%
- Within 7 Days of departure: 30%
- Star Alliance
- More than 7 Days: 20%
- Within 7 Days of departure: 30%
Star Alliance Award Changes & Cancellations Charges
Even though this has been covered above, it is mentioned here for reference. The charges for making changes or cancelling Star Alliance flights booked with Air India are:
- Free Cancellation:
- Cancelled within 24 Hours & 7 days before departure
- No-Show:
- No Refund of Points
- Only taxes refunded
- Window starts 24 hours before departure
- Changes:
- 15% if made before seven days of departure else 25%
- Cancellation:
- 20% if made before seven days of departure else 30%
Here is the official source from where you can check the details.
Bottomline
Air India Flying Returns award cancellation or changes charges are not liner and varies based on your elite status, region, time of changes. You can save points if you make changes or cancel your flight well within time instead of leaving it till last minute. As, last minute changes gets you taxes and not points.
