Denied boarding compensation in India
Checked against the DGCA rules on .
What happened to your flight?
Tap one. Two more taps and you see what the rules may allow, with the rule and the source. Free, no account needed.
Airlines sometimes sell more seats than a plane has. If you are refused boarding because of that, the DGCA rules set compensation by when the airline gets you on another flight.
Who the rules cover
All three of these need to be true:
- You had a confirmed seat on the flight.
- You checked in before the airline's cut-off time.
- You did not agree to give up your seat.
If you volunteered, what you get is what you agreed with the airline in return. If you checked in late or did not have a confirmed seat, these rules do not give compensation.
How much
It is a share of your basic fare plus the fuel charge, with a limit, and it depends on when your new flight leaves (not when it lands):
The most the rules allow
No compensation
200% of basic fare plus fuel, up to ₹10,000
400% of basic fare plus fuel, up to ₹20,000
A full refund, and 400% of basic fare plus fuel, up to ₹20,000
These are limits, not a promise: nothing is owed until the airline agrees to pay.
What to keep
- Proof you checked in on time: a boarding pass, check-in email or screenshot. Airlines dispute this more than anything else.
- Your ticket, showing a confirmed booking.
- Anything the airline gave you in writing about being refused boarding.
If the airline does not put things right, see how to escalate an airline complaint.
Find out for your flight
The free check asks what happened, looks up your flight in independent flight records, and shows what the rules say, with the rule and the source. No account needed.
Where this comes from
CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV — facilities to passengers affected by denied boarding, cancellation and delay
Civil Aviation Requirements, Section 3 — Air Transport, Series M, Part IV, Rev. 4 (25 January 2023, effective 15 February 2023)
The figures here are the ones our rules engine uses (rule set 2026.10.2). They are the most the rules allow, not a promise: nothing is owed until an airline agrees to pay it.
Nivaanzo is run by SpecShield Software Private Limited. We are not a law firm and not connected to any airline. Airline names are used only to say which airline a rule applies to.