Protect yourself from flight delays & cancellations

If you plan to fly to or within north India in the next month or two, you should be prepared for fog-related delays and cancellations.

- Shipra Singh

After all, flight disruptions due to adverse weather affected about four lakh passengers last December.

According to the aviation ministry's passenger charter, fliers are entitled to refreshments, free hotel stays and even monetary compensation, depending on the length of the delay. However, adverse weather is among the factors for which airlines aren't required to provide free accommodation or monetary compensation if a flight is delayed for over 24 hours.

This means you may have to book a hotel and an alternative flight with your own cost. To prevent this, consider buying travel insurance if you plan to fly in December end or in January.

What does travel insurance cover?

Travel insurance pays a fixed, predetermined amount if your flight is delayed. The amount of cover and the stipulated length of the delay differ across policies.