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Winter travel · Your rights

Fog, flight delays and train delays: your rights

Every winter, fog in north India delays and cancels flights and trains. Here is exactly what airlines and Indian Railways must give you, what they need not, and how to claim it, from the official rules. Checked on 8 November 2026.

In short

  • Fog cancelled your flight? You can choose another flight or a full refund. No cash compensation for weather.
  • Domestic flight more than 6 hours late? The airline must offer another flight within 6 hours or a full refund.
  • Waiting at the airport? Government advice: water up to 2 h, tea/coffee and snacks 2–4 h, a meal after 4 h.
  • Train more than 3 hours late and you don't travel? Full refund. E-ticket: file a TDR before the train actually leaves.
  • Keep your phone number and email on the booking. Airlines send fog cancellations by SMS, WhatsApp and email.

Latest fog and delay news

Other flight and train disruptions in India

Before leaving for the airport, check your flight's live status in your airline's app or website: it has the latest time.

Flights: what the DGCA rules say

The rules are in DGCA's Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Section 3, Series M, Part IV. They apply to all Indian airlines and to foreign airlines flying to and from India.

Fog counts as weather: no compensation

Airlines are not liable to pay compensation for cancellations and delays caused by meteorological conditions, air traffic control or security risks (paras 1.5, 3.3.4). Weather also frees them from the duty to give meals and hotels under the CAR (para 3.4.4).

Cancelled flight: alternate flight or refund

If an airline cancels, it must arrange an alternate flight or a refund, as acceptable to you (para 3.3.1). Refunds follow DGCA's refund rules (CAR Series M, Part II).

Delay of more than 6 hours (domestic)

The airline must offer an alternate flight within 6 hours or a full refund of the ticket (para 3.4.2).

Meals and hotel (when the delay is not caused by weather)

Meals and refreshments once the delay reaches 2 h (flights up to 2½ h), 3 h (2½–5 h) or 4 h (longer flights); a hotel with transfers if the delay is over 24 h, or over 6 h for flights due to leave between 8 pm and 3 am (paras 3.4.1, 3.4.3, 3.7).

Ministry advisory for every delay

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has advised airlines to give drinking water for delays up to 2 hours, tea or coffee with snacks for 2–4 hours, and meals beyond 4 hours.

Cancelled in advance for fog

DGCA's fog SOP lets airlines cancel well in advance flights expected to be more than 3 hours late, and requires real-time delay information on their website and by SMS, WhatsApp and email.

Compensation when it is the airline's fault

If a cancellation is not caused by weather or other events beyond the airline's control and you were not told at least 24 hours before, you get an alternate flight, or a full refund plus Rs 5,000 (flights up to 1 h), Rs 7,500 (1–2 h) or Rs 10,000 (over 2 h), or the one-way basic fare plus fuel charge if that is less (para 3.3.2).

Give your contact details

Passengers who did not give a phone number or email at booking get no financial compensation (para 3.3.3). If you booked through an agent, make sure your own number is on the ticket.

Trains: refund when a train runs late

More than 3 hours late and you do not travel: full refund

No cancellation charge; full fare refunded on reserved, RAC and waitlisted tickets, Tatkal included, when the train runs more than 3 hours late from your boarding station (Refund Rules 2015, clause 6).

E-ticket: file a TDR before the train leaves

On IRCTC go to Services > File Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) and choose the train-late reason before the train's actual departure. A TDR filed for this reason after the train has left gets no refund. Counter (PRS) tickets: surrender at the reservation counter before the actual departure.

Train cancelled

If Railways cancel the train, confirmed and RAC e-tickets get an automatic full refund to the account you paid from; no cancellation or TDR is needed. Counter tickets must be surrendered for refund within the time Railways allow.

Questions travellers ask

Will the airline pay compensation if my flight is delayed or cancelled because of fog?
No. DGCA rules say airlines need not pay compensation for cancellations and delays caused by meteorological conditions, which includes fog (CAR Section 3, Series M, Part IV, paras 1.5 and 3.3.4). You still keep the right to a refund or another flight.
My flight was cancelled because of fog. What can I ask for?
An alternate flight or a full refund, whichever you prefer (para 3.3.1). The cash compensation of Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 under para 3.3.2 does not apply when the cancellation is caused by weather.
My domestic flight will be more than 6 hours late. What are my options?
The airline must offer you an alternate flight within 6 hours or a full refund of the ticket (para 3.4.2).
Will I get food and water while I wait?
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has advised airlines to give drinking water for delays of up to 2 hours, tea or coffee with snacks for delays of 2 to 4 hours, and meals for delays of more than 4 hours. Note that the DGCA rule itself does not oblige airlines to give meals or a hotel when the delay is caused by weather (para 3.4.4), so ask the airline staff politely and keep a record if it is refused.
Can the airline cancel my flight in advance because of fog?
Yes. Under DGCA's fog-season SOP (January 2024), airlines may cancel well in advance flights expected to be delayed by more than 3 hours because of fog. Airlines must publish real-time delay information on their website and inform affected passengers by SMS, WhatsApp and email.
My train is running more than 3 hours late. Can I get my money back?
Yes, if you do not travel. Full fare is refunded with no cancellation charge on reserved, RAC and waitlisted tickets when the train runs more than 3 hours late from your boarding station. For an e-ticket, file a TDR on IRCTC (Services > File Ticket Deposit Receipt) before the train actually leaves; for a counter ticket, surrender it before the actual departure. A TDR filed after the train has left is not accepted for this reason.
Where do I complain if the airline does not help?
First the airline (each airline must name a nodal officer and appellate authority on its website). If that does not work, file a grievance on AirSewa, the government portal and app for air passengers (para 3.8). You may also approach a consumer forum or court.

Need another flight?

Compare fares on other airlines and dates if fog has upset your plans.

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Sources

Checked against the sources above on 8 November 2026. Rules can change: confirm with your airline, DGCA or IRCTC before you rely on a specific right. This page explains the rules; it is not legal advice. Read our editorial policy.