Travel guidelines of Indian states and union territories continue to change on short notice, owing to the evolving situation of the second wave of the pandemic in the country.
In order to ensure that flyers go through minimal hassles at a time like this, major Indian airlines offered free date change on domestic flight bookings, many of whom have now extended this convenient policy.
These airlines are: IndiGo, SpiceJet, Go First and Air India.
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Search FlightsDisclaimer: While we are listing the major rules of each of these carriers here, we advise our readers to check the complete terms and conditions regarding the free date change offer, and to also check with their respective airline before making any changes to their bookings.
IndiGo
IndiGo is offering an unlimited ‘change fee’ waiver for domestic flights bookings made with the airline between April 17 and June 30, 2021 (including both these dates). The airline is allowing passengers to avail change of travel date on their flight bookings, and they can make unlimited date changes upto two hours before the flight departure time.
The ‘change fee’ will be waived off for any changes made to the travel date for bookings made during the above mentioned period, without any restrictions on the changed travel date.
However, please note that the offer will not apply if the passenger cancels the booking or changes the sector, in which cases the ‘cancellation fee’ will be chargeable at the current applicable rates.
This offer by IndiGo is applicable for all domestic travel bookings on selective fare options (Regular Fares, Flexi plus Fares and Family Fares) for one-way, connecting and round-trip flights. However, the offer is not applicable on group bookings.
SpiceJet
SpiceJet has extended the ‘Zero Change Fee Offer’ for passengers with direct domestic flight bookings made with the airline between April 17 and June 30, 2021 for travel between April 17 and July 5, 2021.
To avail the change fee waiver, the booking must be modified at least 5 days before the flight departure date. Standard charges will be applicable for bookings changed within 5 days of the flight departure date.
Along with this, fare difference will be applicable for flight changes and shall be payable by the customer. The change fee waiver shall be offered only once. In case the flight is changed by the customer for the second time, then the applicable change fee as per standard terms will be charged by SpiceJet.
The ‘Zero Change Fee Offer’ is applicable only on bookings made under the offered fare and is not valid for group bookings.
Did you know? You can get the latest domestic and international travel guidelines with our COVID-19 guidelines tracker.
Go First
Go First, formerly known as GoAir, is offering unlimited changes to flight bookings at no extra cost for all domestic bookings made with the airline between April 17 – June 30, 2021 for travel between April 17 – June 30, 2021.
To avail the change fee waiver, the flight booking must be modified at least two hours before the flight departure. The offer however, shall not apply if the customer cancels the booking or changes the sector, in which cases the ‘cancellation fee’ will be chargeable at currently applicable rates.
Along with this, fare difference will be applicable for flight changes and shall be payable by the customer (a facilitation fee shall also be applicable for flight changes requested through Contact Centre or Airport Ticketing Counters).
The waiver of change fee can be availed any number of times until June 30, 2021.
The offer is applicable for all domestic travel bookings for one-way, connecting, and round-trip flights with GoAir. However, it is not applicable for group bookings.
Air India
National carrier Air India has announced that it will be offering one free change in date, flight number or sector till June 30, 2021 for domestic flight bookings made with the airline (except for tickets issued through the Air India website or mobile app).
This offer is applicable to all tickets issued by Air India with existing travel date on or before June 30, 2021 and passengers can rebook for new dates as per validity of their existing tickets.
Passengers availing the free change option have to necessarily follow the respective timelines for change as per fare rules. Failure to do so may result in no-show.
In case passengers decide to change the sector, only the reissuance charges will be waived once, other charges will apply.
The free change offer is applicable for all classes and also all types of concessionary tickets and FFP (Frequent Flyer program) redemption tickets.
In case a passenger exercises the change option and is unable to get the same booking class for the new date, he/she will be charged the applicable fare difference. In case, the same booking class is available but tax differential is applicable, the additional difference will be collected from the passenger.
Passengers who have already availed a free change under any earlier waiver can use this offer to additionally avail a change.
Any subsequent change, after availing this one-time free change however, will be governed by the respective fare rules.
We hope that this information proves useful to you. Stay safe!
Featured image credits: IndiGo Airlines official Twitter handle
