How I Saved ₹30,000 on a Dubai-Bangalore Flight Cancellation – Anonymous LinkedIn Story

An anonymous LinkedIn professional shares how they saved ₹30,000 after their Dubai-Bangalore flight was cancelled. By following a straightforward refund strategy, they successfully navigated airline policies to recover the full cost, turning a frustrating experience into a major win.

My Flight Cancellation Experience

Last week, I booked a return ticket from Dubai to Bangalore, but plans changed within hours, forcing me to cancel.

• Booking cost: ₹68,000
  
  

• Refund shown initially: ₹38,000 (after ₹30,000 cancellation charges)
  
  

At first, it seemed like a huge loss. I decided to check the DGCA rules regarding flight cancellations.

The DGCA 24-Hour Cancellation Rule

According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA):

You are eligible for a full refund (minus convenience charges) if:

1. You cancel within 24 hours of booking
   
   

2. Your flight is 7 or more days away
   
   

This rule applies to both domestic and international flights, including the Dubai → Bangalore route.

My Experience with Customer Support

• Tried cancelling online → standard ₹30,000 cancellation charges applied.
  
  

• Called MakeMyTrip support → executive initially insisted the charges were correct.
  
  

The key line I used:

“My booking is under 24 hours old. As per DGCA, I should get a full refund excluding convenience charges, right?”

Initially, the executive said it only applied to domestic flights. I corrected him. After a brief hold, he confirmed:

“YES SIR, in this case, you’re eligible for a full refund barring convenience charges.”

 Result: Refund increased from ₹38,000 → ₹68,000, saving nearly ₹30,000.

Tips for Travelers

1. Cancel within 24 hours of booking.
   
   

2. Ensure travel date is 7+ days away.
   
   

3. Quote DGCA’s 24-hour cancellation rule when speaking to airline or aggregator support.
   
   

 Bonus tip: You can also claim convenience charges by contacting the aggregator separately. DGCA rules allow 100% refund, including fees.

Don’t Let Aggregators Take Advantage

Airlines and aggregators often rely on lack of awareness to retain cancellation charges. Knowing your rights can save thousands.

Knowledge is power—always check the DGCA charter before cancelling a flight.

Final Thoughts

By using the DGCA 24-hour cancellation rule, this anonymous LinkedIn user recovered a full refund on a Dubai → Bangalore flight and saved nearly ₹30,000.

Share this tip with your network—it could save them thousands too!