IndiGo cancellations: Your credit card travel insurance could cover losses
05 Dec 2025

IndiGo's operational turmoil has resulted in over 700 flight cancellations on December 5 alone.

The Delhi airport was the worst hit, with all IndiGo flights for the day canceled. Bengaluru and Chennai airports also witnessed a major impact.

Passengers are now left stranded at airports and their travel plans disrupted due to this unprecedented disruption.

Travel insurance: A potential solution for stranded passengers
Insurance benefits

As IndiGo continues to struggle with crew shortages and scheduling pressures, many passengers are now looking at travel insurance as a possible solution.

This is especially true for those who may have purchased it independently, through Online Travel Aggregators (OTAs), or as part of certain credit cards.

Narendra Bharindwal, President of the Insurance Brokers Association of India, explained how travel insurance can cover non-refundable flights, hotel bookings, and prepaid activities if a trip becomes unviable or has to be canceled.

Check your credit card for built-in travel insurance
Credit card benefits

One of the easiest financial steps a stranded passenger can take is to check if their credit card has built-in travel insurance.

Many premium and mid-tier cards in India offer complimentary coverage for flight delays, cancellations, missed connections, and baggage delays.

The coverage may not be huge but it can help cushion the blow with payouts usually ranging between ₹10,000 and ₹25,000.

Many travelers unknowingly purchase travel insurance through OTAs
OTA insurance

A lot of travelers end up buying travel insurance while booking tickets on online travel aggregators like MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, or even IndiGo's own platform.

These add-on policies are convenient but their coverage varies widely and often comes with fine print that passengers overlook.

OTA-linked insurance can provide relief but it's essential to read the terms carefully and understand what triggers a payout.

DGCA rules: Passenger rights during flight disruptions
Passenger rights

Even before insurance comes into play, passengers have certain rights under India's aviation regulations.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation's Civil Aviation Requirement states what airlines owe travelers when flights are canceled, delayed, or rescheduled after check-in.

If a flight is canceled, airlines must either provide a full refund or an alternate flight and offer meals and refreshments to passengers already at the airport.

How to claim from your travel insurance policy
Claim process

To claim your travel insurance policy, first collect proof such as boarding pass, airline delay/cancellation email, receipts for meals or hotel stays.

Then notify the insurer or bank promptly via email as soon as you know you may have a claim.

Many insurers must acknowledge queries within 48 hours and settle claims within 45 days under regulations.

However, most plans compensate delays only when disruption exceeds a minimum threshold (often six hours).