Hours spent waiting at an airport after a flight delay can quickly become exhausting, especially during the monsoon when bad weather disrupts flight schedules across India. But many passengers don't realise that airlines cannot simply ask travellers to keep waiting indefinitely. Depending on how long the delay is and when the airline informs you, you could be entitled to free meals, hotel accommodation, an alternate flight or even a full refund.

If your travel plans have been affected by heavy rain, thunderstorms or poor visibility, knowing these rules can help you avoid unnecessary expenses and ensure you receive the assistance you are entitled to under the Ministry of Civil Aviation's Passenger Charter.

When must airlines give you free food?

The first thing most passengers ask after a long delay is whether the airline has to provide meals. The answer depends on the expected waiting time and the duration of your flight.

If you have checked in on time, airlines must provide complimentary meals and refreshments when delays reach:

  • Two hours or more for flights with a block time of up to 2.5 hours.
  • Three hours or more for flights with a block time between 2.5 and 5 hours.
  • Four hours or more for flights with a block time exceeding five hours.

The longer the delay, the greater the airline's responsibility to take care of passengers waiting at the airport.

When can you get a free hotel stay?

Hotel accommodation is not offered for every delayed flight. However, airlines must arrange accommodation in specific situations.

Passengers may qualify for a complimentary hotel if:

  • The airline informs them more than 24 hours before departure and the revised departure is delayed by over 24 hours.
  • The delay exceeds six hours for flights originally scheduled to depart between 8 pm and 3 am.

If eligible, airlines are also expected to make the necessary arrangements rather than leaving passengers to find accommodation on their own.

What if the delay is more than 6 hours?

For domestic flights delayed by more than six hours, passengers should not assume they have to wait.

If the revised departure is communicated more than 24 hours before the original schedule, airlines must offer either:

  • An alternate flight within six hours, or
  • A full refund if the passenger chooses not to travel.

Can you claim compensation?

In some cases, yes.

If the airline fails to notify passengers within the prescribed timeline or a disruption causes a missed connecting flight booked on the same ticket, passengers may also be eligible for compensation in addition to a refund or alternate flight.

The compensation can go up to ₹10,000 depending on the scheduled block time of the flight, although it cannot exceed the one-way basic fare plus the airline fuel charge.