Circular no. 232- DGCA “Free Look‑in Option” for Air India Express – Refunds & Name Change Provisions | Effective 26 March 2026 – TBO.COM

DGCA Revised “Free Look‑in Option” for Air India Express – Refunds & Name Change Provisions | Effective 26 March 2026

Dear Travel Partner,

Greetings from Air India Express!

As per the DGCA directive issued under CAR Section 3 – Air Transport, Series ‘M’, Part II, Revision 3 dated 24 February 2026, Air India Express has implemented a revised ‘Free Look-in Option’, effective 26 March 2026.

This directive will allow guests to cancel or amend bookings without penalty within a stipulated Look-in Period, subject to the conditions detailed below.

1. Applicability

• Valid only for new/original bookings

• Applicable for Domestic and International itineraries

• Departure must meet the minimum advance booking timelines

2. Look-in Period – Snapshot

3. Indirect Channel Sales (Travel Partners / OTAs)

· Eligible for a 24-hour Look-in Period, subject to departure timeline

· Refund or reissue must be initiated within 24 hours of ticket issuance

· No cancellation/change penalty within this window

· Fare difference and government taxes, if applicable, remain payable

· Post Look-in Period, normal fare rules apply

4. Refunds – Free Look-in Option

· All refund requests must be routed through the 'TIA Chatbot' option available on the Air India Express website

· Full refund is permitted if requested within the applicable Look-in Period

· Applies irrespective of fare type, even if base fare + YQ is non-refundable

· Ancillary EMDs can be refunded only if issued on the same day as the itinerary

· All refunds must be processed via the original source of booking and credited to the original form of payment

5. Exchanges

· Itineraries may be reissued without penalty if requested within the applicable Look-in Period

· Change penalty removal is manual

· Any fare difference or government taxes resulting from itinerary change remain payable

· Subsequent changes/refunds will be governed by normal fare rules

Non-compliance, especially for Indirect Channel bookings, will result in Agency Debit Memos (ADMs).

We request all Travel Partners to strictly adhere to the above-mentioned procedures to ensure complete compliance with DGCA requirements.

For any clarification, please reach out to your Air India Express account manager.

Regards,

Puja Kumar

Team Air India Express

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