Claim Compensation from Indigo

Getting your ducks in a row before you contact Indigo can make the difference between a quick payout and a dead end. Don't even think about calling them without this stuff ready.

• Know Your Details Cold: Have your 6-digit booking reference (PNR), flight numbers, dates, and passenger names ready. They will ask for it immediately.
• Document Everything: Screenshot the cancellation email. Take photos of the departure board showing the delay. Keep all receipts for food, hotels, or alternate transportation you had to buy. No receipt, no reimbursement. It's that simple.
• Write Down What Happened: Create a simple timeline of events. For example: 'Flight 6E 123 scheduled for 8 AM. Notified of cancellation at 6 AM via text. Waited 2 hours in line at the airport. Forced to buy a new ticket on another airline for $450.'
• Be Clear on Your 'Ask': Decide exactly what you want. Is it a full refund of your ticket? Reimbursement for your hotel and meals? Or compensation for being involuntarily bumped? State the exact dollar amount.
• Reference Their Own Rules: Briefly check Indigo's 'Conditions of Carriage' on their website and the US DOT's 'Fly Rights'. Mentioning a specific rule shows you've done your homework and aren't just complaining.

Navigating your rights can feel complicated, but for flights touching the US, the rules are pretty clear. This is US-focused information.

• Cancellations & Significant Delays: In the U.S., if an airline cancels your flight, you are entitled to a full cash refund for the ticket, not just a voucher. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is very clear on this. For significant delays, your right to a refund depends on the circumstances, but it's always worth asking for.
• Involuntary Bumping (Denied Boarding): If you are bumped from an overbooked flight against your will, you are entitled to compensation. DOT rules mandate compensation of up to 400% of your one-way fare (capped at $1,550) depending on the length of the delay to your final destination.
• Tarmac Delays: For domestic flights, airlines cannot keep you on a plane on the tarmac for more than three hours without letting you deplane. For international flights, it's four hours.
• Lost or Damaged Baggage: For domestic travel, the DOT's liability limit is currently $3,800 per passenger for lost, damaged, or delayed bags. You must file a claim with the airline first.
• What about EU/UK Rules? If your travel itinerary includes a flight departing from the EU or UK on any airline, or arriving in the EU/UK on a European/British airline, you may be covered by stronger EU261/UK261 regulations, which mandate specific cash compensation for delays over 3 hours, cancellations, and denied boarding.

Subject: Compensation Request for Flight [Your Flight Number] on [Date] - Booking Reference [Your PNR]

Dear Indigo Customer Relations,

This email is a formal request for compensation regarding a service failure on my booking, reference number [Your PNR].

My flight, [Flight Number], from [Departure Airport] to [Arrival Airport] on [Date], was [select one: cancelled / significantly delayed by X hours / I was involuntarily denied boarding].

This disruption caused significant inconvenience and direct financial loss. As a result of this failure, I incurred the following expenses:

• Alternate transportation: $[Amount]
• Hotel accommodation: $[Amount]
• Meals: $[Amount]
• Total Expenses: $[Total Amount]

(I have attached copies of all relevant receipts for your review.)

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation regulations regarding [select one: flight cancellations / denied boarding compensation], I am entitled to a full refund and/or compensation for the disruption and resulting expenses.

I expect a full reimbursement of $[Total Amount] to my original payment method within 14 business days.

If I do not receive a satisfactory response within this timeframe, I will escalate this matter by filing a formal complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation and initiating a chargeback with my credit card provider.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name] [Your Phone Number] [Your Email Address]

So, Indigo sent you a generic 'no' or just ignored you completely. Don't give up. Now it's time to apply real pressure.

1. File a DOT Complaint: This is your most powerful tool as a US traveler. Go to the Department of Transportation's website and file a formal complaint against the airline. Airlines take these seriously because the DOT tracks them and can issue fines. It's free and surprisingly effective.
2. Initiate a Credit Card Chargeback: If you paid by credit card, call your bank and request a chargeback for 'services not rendered'. Explain that the airline cancelled your flight and refused a refund. Provide your documentation (cancellation email, etc.). The credit card company will fight the battle for you.
3. Make Noise on Social Media: A polite but firm public post on Twitter/X, tagging @IndiGo6E and a major travel blogger, can sometimes get a faster response from a social media team empowered to solve problems. Be factual, not just angry. 'Day 10 of waiting for a refund for cancelled flight 6E 123. @IndiGo6E, my PNR is XXXXXX. Can anyone help?'
4. Small Claims Court: This is the nuclear option, but it's on the table. If the amount of money is significant and the airline is clearly in the wrong, filing a case in small claims court can be effective. The mere threat of it can sometimes be enough to get them to pay up.

Tired of Indigo's support agents reading from a script that always ends with 'we can't help you'? Sound familiar? Dealing with airline bureaucracy is designed to make you quit. That’s where Pine AI steps in. We handle the entire frustrating compensation process for you. No more waiting on hold for hours, no more drafting angry emails that get ignored, and no more trying to figure out complex DOT regulations. Just upload your flight details and receipts, and our AI gets to work, drafting and sending persuasive, regulation-backed claims on your behalf. We manage all the follow-ups and escalations automatically. It’s not just about saving time; it’s about saving your sanity. With a 93% success rate in negotiations, we know how to get past the corporate stonewalling and get you the money you're owed. Why fight them alone? Let us handle the headache.

The information on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Pine AI is not a law firm.