Air India Flyer Alleges Costly Rebooking After Last-Minute Change

A passenger has raised concerns over a last-minute flight rescheduling by Air India, claiming he was forced to pay significantly higher fares to rebook a trip to Singapore. The flyer, who had booked a direct Delhi–Singapore flight for May 3 well in advance, said he received a notification after web check-in that the flight had been shifted to May 4 and changed to a non-direct service.

According to the complaint shared online, the airline initially offered only two options: accept the delayed May 4 flight or cancel and rebook at nearly four times the original fare. The passenger later said he was moved to a May 2 flight, but it involved a layover in Mumbai instead of the originally booked direct route. He also alleged that he was asked to pay again for seat selection despite having already paid earlier.

The issue has sparked wider discussion about airline rescheduling practices and passenger rights. As per guidelines from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, airlines must offer a full refund or an alternate flight in case of schedule changes, and compensation may apply if adequate notice is not provided. The disruption also reportedly led to additional expenses for the passenger, including an extra night’s hotel stay. Air India had not responded to queries at the time of reporting.

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