MakeMyTrip launches Price Drop Protection to refund fare difference after booking

Seeing the fare drop within two days of buying a ticket is annoying. To ease that worry, MakeMyTrip has launched a new feature called Price Drop Protection. If the airfare falls after a booking is confirmed, the difference is refunded to the passenger. The idea is that passengers benefit if a lower fare appears before departure, so there is no harm in booking early.

Travellers in India think hard about when exactly to book while planning a trip. They watch ticket prices, decide whether to book at once or wait, and are often unsure whether fares will fall after they book. This cautious approach shows in their booking pattern too. Before the final booking they check the fare of the same flight several times, and when they finally book, the travel date is often very close.

The reasons passengers check fares repeatedly are also given. Their travel plans are still being finalised, personal and work commitments can change, and they want the best possible fare. As a result, much time goes into searching for fares and bookings happen late. The feature has been designed to reduce this uncertainty and encourage passengers to plan early.

The facility is available on both domestic and international flights, on one-way as well as round-trip bookings. Passengers can choose the option by clicking Price Drop Protection while booking. The fee starts at Rs 229 per person for domestic flights and Rs 349 per person for international flights.

Since it was introduced in a trial phase, the feature has gradually become more popular with passengers. An encouraging number of passengers who chose the option saw a fall in fares on both domestic and international flights. This suggests that passengers who want greater assurance while booking like the facility.

Raj Rishi Singh, COO, Flights, Corporate, GCC and Marketing at MakeMyTrip, said: "Passengers do not have to choose between booking early and worrying about the fare falling afterwards. Price Drop Protection gives passengers the freedom to book at their convenience, and the assurance that they are protected if the fare drops. It is a simple way to offer more flexibility and peace of mind while planning travel."

The refund is also capped. The maximum refund on the fare difference is Rs 2,500 per person for domestic flights and Rs 3,000 per person for international flights. The feature counts any fall in fares from the time of booking up to six hours before departure. If the fare falls in this period, MakeMyTrip informs the passenger directly. The refund is credited to the original payment source the passenger used to pay.

Price Drop Protection is now part of MakeMyTrip's existing Flight Assurance Suite, which already includes Zero Cancellation and Free Date Change. With the new facility, the suite is no longer limited to cancelling tickets and changing travel dates. Fare changes after booking are now covered as well.