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Return plane tickets. Refunds for e-tickets. Is it possible to return a non-refundable plane ticket

No. There are two types of ticket fares: refundable and non-refundable. The names speak for themselves, but let's explain.

● If your ticket has a refundable fare, everything is simple: the ticket can be returned (and possibly exchanged - you need to specify in the fare rules) if for some reason you decide not to fly. There can be any reason. The money will be returned, even if you simply changed your mind about flying, but, perhaps, they will withhold a fine for the return.

● A non-refundable rate is another story. Everything, again, depends on the rules for applying the fare, and part of the money can still be returned, but you will not receive the full cost of the ticket if you cancel your flight back in any case.

Can a non-refundable ticket be returned?

It is possible, such a return is called forced, and it is possible if:

● The passenger or one of his close family members fell ill and cannot fly according to the doctor's recommendations (however, not all airlines consider this reason to be sufficient).

● The passenger or someone close to his family died.

● The passenger has not received a visa for travel (also, not all companies recognize this reason as sufficient).

If you find yourself in one of these situations, inform the support service of the service where you bought the tickets, and send supporting documents. After that, the service specialists will send a request for a refund for the ticket to the airline.

How do I know which ticket I have?

Before buying a ticket, read the fare rules. They can usually be found on the booking and payment screen.

The rules for applying the fare include a lot of nuances, including information on the return and exchange of tickets. Look for the item called CANCELLATIONS and pay attention to the following phrases:

● TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE - the ticket is non-refundable;

● TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE FOR CANCEL / REFUND - the ticket is non-refundable;

● REFUND IS NOT PERMITTED - the ticket is non-refundable;

● ANY TIME TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE - the ticket is non-refundable at any time;

● TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF NO-SHOW - the ticket is non-refundable in case of no-show for the flight;

● CHANGE IS NOT PERMITTED - exchange is prohibited;

● CHANGE NOT PERMITTED IN CASE OF NO SHOW - exchange is prohibited in case of no-show for the flight.

The rules can be not only in English, but also in Russian.

How long does it take to return?

The money is credited to the account from 3 to 60 days from the date of the return. As a rule, the refund takes less than two months - often the money is returned after a couple of weeks. Funds for unused flight segments will be credited to the card with which you paid for the purchase.

If within 30 days the funds have not been credited to your account, please contact support by attaching an account statement from the date of return to the present day.

What to do, if

1. Tickets were purchased on the wrong date / in the wrong country

If you notice an error immediately after the purchase (or within 30 minutes), nothing terrible has happened. Most ticket services allow you to cancel your order with little or no loss. If you paid with a card, your money will be stuck in the bank for a while for the period of refund or unblocking, but in the end you will lose nothing or almost nothing.

But in some cases, the purchase of air tickets cannot be canceled even within 30 minutes. For example, Pobeda Airlines does not allow cancellations. In some cases, it will not be possible to cancel a ticket with a departure in the near future.

If you buy a ticket on the airline's website, please note that the time for ticket cancellation there is very limited. So we recommend that you carefully check all the nuances before payment: dates, directions, passenger data.

If you notice the error late - that is, more than 30 minutes have passed since the payment was made - contact the service support team. The ticket will have to be exchanged or returned and bought again.

2. I am late for the airport

As soon as possible, contact the service where you bought the ticket and find out what options you have. The sooner you do this, the lower your financial losses will be: in case of a refund, you will receive more money, and in case of transferring your departure to a later flight, the surcharge will be lower. If you bought a ticket directly from an airline, then you need to contact its support service.

3. I or my relatives got sick

See your doctor first. Firstly, you should not self-medicate, and secondly, if you want to get money back for tickets, you will need certificates to be submitted to the airline. Contact the support service of the service where you bought your tickets to get a sample help.

If you are not sick, but one of your close relatives - a child, parent, husband or wife - also take a doctor's certificate and contact the support service of the service where you bought the tickets.

The service agent will resolve all issues with the airline, and if everything is in order with your documents, you will receive your money in full within up to 2 months. The same algorithm works in the case of direct communication with the airline.

An involuntary ticket refund can also be requested if a close relative of the passenger has died. And of course, the money for the ticket can be returned in the event of the death of the passenger himself.

Important! It is necessary to report illness or death of a passenger or a close relative as early as possible. Be sure to do this before the end of check-in for the flight, otherwise the airline will refuse to refund the money for the ticket. And some airlines ask you to notify them 24 hours before departure. So the sooner you contact the support service of the service where you bought your tickets, the better.

4. I was not given a visa

Visa refusal is another reason for issuing a forced refund of an air ticket, but not all airlines recognize it. In any case, if you were not given a visa, immediately contact the service where you bought the ticket, or the airline itself.

If the airline considers the refusal of a visa to be a sufficient reason, you will need to send copies of documents confirming the reason for the refusal. Usually you need an official waiver on the letterhead of the embassy or consulate with a notarized translation.

5. My plans have changed

If you decide to cancel your trip, this is considered a voluntary cancellation of the flight, and the terms of the refund depend on the fare of your ticket. The general rule is this: the cheaper the ticket, the more losses it will be returned. Usually, the cheapest tickets are non-refundable, that is, if you cancel your flight, you will lose the full price.

If you voluntarily return your ticket, you will be deducted the following:

● The whole tariff, if it is non-refundable. If the fare is refundable, it is possible that a part of it will be withheld in the event of a voluntary cancellation of the flight - you need to clarify in the rules for applying the fare.

● Cancellation and / or Cancellation Fees. They are set by the airline and are specified in the fare rules.

● Agency fee for ticket refunds.

Often, if you subtract all of this from the ticket price, you get a negative value.

6. The airline made changes to the flight and I don't like them

To issue a refund or exchange, contact the support service of the service where you bought the tickets. On the basis of your application, specialists will send a request to the airline for authorization of a full refund and, after receiving a response, will issue a refund.

Usually, in this case, you do not need to pay extra for an exchange or refund.

7. The flight was delayed, and I no longer want to fly anywhere

If your flight was delayed or canceled due to weather conditions, due to a natural disaster or technical breakdown of the aircraft (in general, any reasons that did not depend on you), try to get a note from the airline representatives about the delay or cancellation of the flight and send it to Customer Support. The ticket service agent will tell you whether it will be possible to make a refund or exchange, and he will contact the airline himself.

An important point

The decision on the return of funds in any case is always taken by the company. The service for selling tickets can only send a request for an involuntary refund to the airline, but the service specialists cannot influence the decision or speed up the process of its consideration. So please be patient.

conclusions

1. Look, the ticket with what tariff you buy: refundable or non-refundable. This information appears when booking.
2. If the ticket is non-refundable, this means one thing: it cannot be returned, and if the trip is canceled, the amount to be refunded will be minimal or zero.
3. When buying tickets through the travel service, you can cancel the purchase of tickets within 30 minutes after payment (the time may differ in different services), and you will be refunded the full amount.
4. If the flight is canceled for a valid reason (illness or death of the passenger or his relatives, visa refusal), you can return part of the money even for a ticket with a non-refundable fare.
5. If the airline has made changes to the flight that do not suit you, or the flight is canceled / delayed for reasons beyond your control, this is also an opportunity to get the money back for the ticket.
6. If you simply decide not to fly, you will have to pay cancellation penalties. The shorter the time before departure, the higher the penalty. If you leave after 24 hours and you change your mind, the penalty will be maximum.
7. You need to apply for a refund before departure. If you contact later, there is a great chance that nothing will be returned.
8. In any case, always contact support for a refund calculation. This is a chance to get back at least part of the amount.

Usually, the passenger contacts the ticket office, booking system or the airline's representative office to get the money back. But companies are not always ready to part with the amounts paid for tickets.

What actions will help you get back more money spent on buying air tickets?

Let's start with the good news. According to the "Air Code of the Russian Federation", the main document regulating the activities of civil aviation, there are no non-refundable tickets. Even those tickets that the passenger bought with a good discount can be returned to the carrier. There are already precedents in which passengers have won the courts against airlines.

How much money can I get back?

In accordance with article 108 of the Russian Air Code, if you return the ticket no later than one day before departure, the airline must refund you the full cost of the ticket. True, there is one proviso: "if no grace period is specified by the air transportation rules established by the carrier." What is meant is not clear. One would think that we are talking about the so-called "non-refundable" tickets purchased under the action, but no.

There is a judicial precedent. A resident of Volgograd decided to return the purchased ticket 27 days before departure. The airline returned it only the fuel surcharge, because it was originally stipulated that the ticket was non-refundable. The woman turned to Rospotrebnadzor for the truth. As a result, the court ruled to return her the full amount of the ticket - in accordance with just 108 article of the Air Code.

There is also an order from the FAS dated April 5, 2010 - “to exclude the practice of selling tickets at tariffs that exclude refunds in the event of a passenger's voluntary refusal of transportation”. However, in this order, the department also refers to Article 108 of the Air Code.

Grounds for ticket refund:

1. Article 108 of the Air Code of the Russian Federation (hereinafter - VK RF).

The passenger of the aircraft has the right to cancel the flight with a notification to the carrier no later than twenty-four hours before the departure of the aircraft, unless a grace period is specified by the air transportation rules established by the carrier, and to receive back the amount paid for the air transportation.

In case of cancellation of the flight later than the established period, the passenger has the right to receive back the amount paid for the air carriage, withholding the fee, the amount of which cannot exceed twenty-five percent of the amount paid for the air carriage.

2. Article 100 Rules for the formation and application of tariffs for regular air transportation of passengers and baggage, collection of fees in the field of civil aviation.

The charge for passenger cancellation of the flight is established by the carrier in the amount of not more than 25 percent of the amount paid by the passenger for the carriage, if the carriage was not performed on any section, and if the carriage was partially performed - in the amount of not more than 25 percent of the amount, paid for the unfulfilled part of the carriage.

3. For airlines, if they have their own rules for air transportation, including rules for the sale of transportation, in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 102 of the Air Code of the Russian Federation, provide access to such rules at airlines 'offices, sales offices, as well as by posting them on airlines' websites.

a) Carriers (sales agents - if such information is provided to sales agents) to provide access to information:

  • - about all fares applied by the airline on a specific route, and the conditions for their application. Information should be provided in Russian and, if special terms and codes are used, contain the necessary explanations;
  • - about all types of additional charges and taxes applied by the carrier, as well as the procedure and legality of their establishment;
  • - on the procedure for refunding in case of refusal of carriage or changes in the conditions of carriage.

b) Eliminate the practice of selling tickets at tariffs that exclude refunds in the event of a passenger's voluntary refusal to carry.

In your appeal to the airline or to the court, you must first of all be guided by federal regulations, that is, the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Air Code of the Russian Federation, the Law "On Protection of Consumer Rights", etc., and then refer to the "internal rules of transportation" of the airline.


Where to contact

The list of places where tickets are returned is spelled out in the internal rules of the air carrier. The easiest way to find them is on the company's website on the Internet. You can also call the airline's help desk, where you will be prompted for the necessary addresses and phone numbers.

Keep in mind that the procedure for returning tickets established by the company should in any case not contradict the general rules of air transportation. And they provide that a refund in case of refusal to travel can be made "at the ticket office of the airline itself, from agents authorized by the company to sell tickets, as well as at the points provided for by the airline's rules."

Another important nuance is that there are various directives of the Russian Ministry of Transport, which partially contradict the Air Code. Lawyers say that in disputable cases, the court will be guided by the Air Code, and not by intra-industry rules.

Sequence of actions for ticket refund:

1. Find the coordinates of the organization where you bought the ticket. For example, if you purchased a ticket from a booking site or from a travel company, then you need to go there, not the airline you are going to fly.

2. Check what rules for exchanging tickets exist in the organization where you bought them. This information can be attached to your e-ticket file. It is also often posted on the organization's website. This data will help you, if necessary, defend your rights and speak reasonably with company representatives.

3. Contact the company where you bought the tickets. This can be done by visiting the company in person or by calling. Be prepared to give not only your name, but also your passport details to verify your identity. Also keep the ticket itself ready. He has a unique number, which will also need to be reported to an employee of the company.

If the ticket was purchased from an agency, then you need to write an application to this office (letter by e-mail), informing him of the cancellation of the flight, with a request to return the money to the bank card on the basis of Article 108 of the VK RF (you can quote the provisions that apply to your case). This is quite enough.

If the agency is Russian, it is advisable to duplicate the same statement by sending it by mail with acknowledgment of receipt to the addressee, or bring it to the office and put a note of receipt on the copy. Such a paper document will be needed if the case is brought to court. True, if the agent is imported, then it will cost more to "get" him out of Russia through legal disputes. But the main thing here is to fix the moment of notifying him of your refusal to fly.

4. Please note that if you purchased low-cost tickets, then most likely you will not be able to refund the full amount. Most companies will charge you a percentage of the cancellation. If you decide to cancel your flight for less than three days, be prepared for the fact that the amount of such a fine can be up to half of the ticket price. After agreeing on the amount, find out how you can get your money back. You may be given them in cash or transferred to your bank account. In the latter case, do not forget to give your bank details to the company employee.

5. If you have received a refusal from the agent - they say, we have nothing to do with it, contact the air carrier. Refusal is better in the form of a written paper document, but e-mail will also go.

6. You need to write a similar statement to the air carrier by e-mail (ticket booking center or something like that), and send the same by mail - to one of their Russian (if the carrier is a foreign airline) representative offices (from where or where they were going to fly).

Be sure to attach a copy of the agent's refusal / response to transfer the arrow to the carrier, and refer to this in the text of the application. Here it is also important that the letter reaches the airline (any of its representatives) at least one day before the first flight. Paper may also be needed in case of a court or a complaint to the Federal Air Transport Agency. However, for the Federal Air Transport Agency, a printout of the correspondence by e-mail will be enough.

7. What to do if you received an answer by e-mail - they say, sorry, the fare is non-refundable (as an option - with subsequent correspondence, they may offer some kind of voucher for a flight with a limited validity period)?

You write to them again: if you please, comply with Russian legislation, do not violate my rights. All this can be repeated several times. How many times exactly depends on your persistence and the consistency of the arguments presented. Well, for example: the second time you can write this - if you, Mrs X, are not authorized to return the debt to me for the surrendered ticket, refer to the management to make an appropriate decision; in the 3rd time - solve my question faster with competent managers, tk. according to Russian law, for the delay in fulfilling a legal requirement of a consumer, a penalty is charged (meaning the Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights); for the 4th time - you ignore my rights, thereby violating the Air Code of Russia, I will complain about your company to the Federal Air Transport Agency; for the 5th time - the management of your company forces me to go to court, where I will sue for the collection of the debt and late payment interest.

In general, at some point they have to back off and return the entire amount. Just do not get excited and do not rush - write to them the next day after receiving an answer. So that the whole procedure can take up to two weeks sometimes. If the air carrier refunds your money through an agent, then the chances of returning all commissions are high. And if you do it directly, then you will still need to "hammer" that agent, referring to the example of the carrier.

If there is no result, then the easiest way is to actually send a complaint about the air carrier by mail to the Federal Air Transport Agency, attaching all the claims correspondence to it. Of course, you have to wait for the bureaucratic machine to work, but it really will work 95%, and it's free for you.

And, finally, the court - here any lawyer guarantees you a 100% result. In principle, a claim can be brought against both the airline itself and the agent who sold you the air transportation. You can get back 2 times the cost of your ticket if you base a claim on the Consumer Protection Law. In short, it looks like this: according to this law, the court can charge the debtor with penalties (at the request of the plaintiff) in the amount of 0.5% of the debt amount for each day of delay in execution from the moment of receipt of the request for a refund.

But, as a rule, the court limits the amount of the levied penalty interest to the amount of the principal debt. Well, we must not forget to indicate in the claim the requirement for the debtor to pay the court state duty and the costs of the plaintiff (passenger / consumer) for the services of a lawyer - such claims are satisfied by the courts practically "automatically".


Where to complain?

All sorts of tricks and excuses of carriers, which the passenger often hears, are due to the fact that there are own rules for air transportation of airlines, the rules for the formation of tariffs by them, and the application of additional charges. It is to them that representatives of airlines refer when they are trying to withhold more money from passengers for an unused air ticket.

If all negotiations and written claims did not help, file a complaint with the Federal Air Transport Agency (you can even electronically - through the official website of the Federal Air Transport Agency).
You can send a complaint through the website of the Federal Air Transport Agency

  • (e-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)
  • http://www.favt.ru/favt_new/?q=obrawenija_grazhdan%2Fobwestvennaja_priemnaja

In addition, you can get help from the Union of Consumers of Russia and, as the case with a resident of Volgograd showed, from Rospotrebnadzor.

You can get advice on protecting your rights at the Consumers Union of Russia http://www.potrebitel.net/

When resolving disputable situations, you can contact Rospotrebnadzor http://rospotrebnadzor.ru/virtual/feedback

But if an air carrier goes bankrupt, everything is much more complicated here. You can sue the company and even win the case, but there are no guarantees that the money will be returned to you. There is no insurance for such a case. The case with Avianova is another proof of this. Some passengers still cannot get refunds for canceled trips.

P.S. You may be interested in articles of the Air Code No. 100, 107, 108, 137. Article 107 speaks about the refusal of the carrier, and article 137 speaks about the procedure for applying the Air Code.

Several helpful videos will help you on your travels:

  1. How to save money when buying air tickets?
  2. How to save money when receiving cash from ATMs?
  3. How to take a virtual walk in the place of your future vacation?
  4. How to get a personal translator for free?
  5. How to calculate a Schengen visa correctly?
  6. How to choose a suitcase for travel?
  7. How to buy tickets on the service from Google
  8. How to pay safely while on the Internet
  9. Much, much more ...

Sometimes circumstances turn against us, and all plans collapse. It is especially offensive when a planned vacation or trip is disrupted, when all the tickets have already been bought. But even in this case, you can get a refund for a ticket purchased in advance. Be it train, bus or plane.

Of course, plane tickets are much more expensive and the requirements for their return are much stricter than for other types of transport. How, you will learn from this article.

Possible reasons for the return

If you buy a plane ticket via the Internet, please read the ticket refund policy in advance. Usually, when returning air tickets purchased via the Internet, part of the costs is withheld, the amount of such a fine is set by each airline itself. A fine is levied when a passenger surrenders a ticket for no good reason.

The airlines consider the following as compelling reasons for not levying fines:

  • Cancellation of the flight;
  • Illness or death of a passenger / close relative;
  • Refusal to issue a visa;
  • Long flight delay;
  • Transferring the flight to another day;
  • Flight route change;
  • Failure to ensure flight connections (if a single ticket is purchased).

All these reasons for cancellation of the flight must be agreed with the airline in case of cancellation of the flight.

Return terms

The timing of the return of funds depends primarily on the method of payment for their cost. If tickets were purchased at the airline's box office, then you can return the ticket and get money for its return in cash at the box office, or to the account - you will need to provide details. In general, the method of refund can be chosen by the airline customer.

If the tickets were purchased via the Internet, then there are several options for refunding the money:

  • In cash at the office of the seller's company;
  • Electronic payment to the card;
  • Transfer to a current account or e-wallet.

Warning

Usually, money is transferred to an account within 3-10 days, but in some cases, banking transactions can take up to 30 days. To a large extent, the speed of the transfer will depend on your bank and not on the airline.

Return documents

In order to receive money for a returned ticket, you must submit:

  • Passenger ID;
  • Air ticket;
  • Return claim;
  • Account details;
  • Certificate confirming the right to return (if required).

The application must indicate the reasons for the return of the ticket, list the list of attached documents, and also indicate the requirements for the return of the ticket. Communication with the airline must be in writing, even if you receive a refusal, it must be in writing.

What can you count on?

It all depends on:

  • At what rate was the ticket purchased?
  • Is it in the category of refundable or is it non-refundable?
  • Are the reasons for the return coercive enough?
  • How long before departure was the refund application filed?

Usually, if the ticket was purchased in first or business class, then most of the cost of the ticket is given for the refund. Currently, almost all economy class tickets have been included in the category of non-refundable tickets, it is almost impossible to get funds for these tickets, unless the reason is included in the list of exceptions for refund. You can read more about what a non-refundable ticket is in our article.

Warning

In order for you to be refunded the entire cost of the ticket or most of the reason for the return must be valid, it is best if they are documented.

Also, you need to notify the airline about the refund in advance, thanks to the timely notification, you can get great compensation. So, if you warn:

  • One day before departure - the full cost of the ticket will be refunded, excluding commissions and small fines;
  • In less than a day - 75% of the cost will be returned, minus fines and commissions;
  • In less than 4 hours - it is possible that a part of the ticket price will be refunded, but the penalties will be increased.

If there is a death or illness of a passenger, the refund will be 100%. The same amount will be refunded if the flight did not take place or was delayed by more than 3 hours due to the fault of the airline.

Non-refundable tickets

Not so long ago, non-refundable tickets were introduced in Russia, previously they were used abroad for a long time. This type of tickets insures the airline against losses, for example, when a passenger misses a flight and asks for a refund.

There are only a few exceptions, according to which the buyer of a non-refundable ticket is entitled to receive money for its return. In practice, such tickets are rarely refunded. It is possible to learn more about the return of this type of tickets.

Now an air ticket can be purchased not only at the ticket office, but also at special points of sale or on the Internet. Returning a ticket there shouldn't be too much of a hassle either.

On all ticket sites, there is a "Return" button. The ticket purchase agreement is also described, which indicates the possible reasons for the return.

Thus, if you cannot fly, then in order to return the ticket you need:

  • Go to your personal account on the website;
  • Press the "Return" button;
  • I act according to the instructions on the website to return the ticket;
  • Provide details for a refund.

Information

The money will be returned to you on the card with which you paid for the ticket or to the specified account. In some cases, the process of refunding money through intermediaries can take up to three months.

If a refund is denied

Sometimes it is not easy to get money back for a ticket, but if you are sure that you can count on compensation, then you can try to prove it in court. When you go to court for a refund, we recommend using the services of a lawyer who will help you get compensation, as well as protect your interests before the airline and the court.

Airplane tickets can be returned and received the full cost of the flight. It is also possible to return the cheapest non-refundable air tickets, but get only a fraction of the money. If your plans have changed, your trip is canceled, or you missed your flight, then knowing the rules according to which airlines are obliged to return the cost of air transportation to passengers, you can not lose all your money.

Avianity Search does not write out plane tickets (does not sell air tickets), but only compares their prices with airlines and ticket agencies. Avianiti will find the cheapest flights and offer to buy them from an airline or agency. In the search results, under the "Buy" button, a list of air ticket prices and links to airlines and agencies are displayed.

For all questions related to air tickets, you must contact the airline or agency. Avianiti does not store any booking details.

How to find out in which agency you bought tickets

The airline and agency that sold the tickets will be indicated on the payment receipt and on the form of the electronic ticket. Also, the details of the company that sold the plane tickets are displayed on the bank statement.

If you cannot contact the agency, you can contact the airline that operates the flight. All data about air tickets and passengers after the purchase of tickets is transferred to the carrier.

When can I get a refund for air tickets?

The conditions for refunding airplane tickets depend on the reasons. If the return of air tickets is voluntary and the passenger refuses the flight for his own reasons, he agrees to the terms of the airlines and fines. The amount that the airline will refund for unused tickets depends on their fare. The cheaper the fare, the less chances you have to return your tickets. If you plan to fly in a charter, economy class or buy a promotional offer, please note that if you cancel your trip, you will not be refunded the full cost of the air tickets, and you will have to pay extra when exchanging it.

Refunds due to the fault of the airline

The passenger can refund the full cost of air tickets in case of a forced refund, which happens due to the fault of the airline.

  • Flight rescheduling or cancellation for more than 3 hours.
  • Flight not on schedule.
  • Flight route change.
  • Failure to provide flight connections by the airline.
  • Lack of space on the plane (overbooking or overbooking).
  • Delay of a passenger due to inspection at the airport (if during the inspection no substances and items prohibited for carriage were found).

Refunds of the full cost of air tickets are also possible in case of refusal to obtain a visa, in cases of hospitalization, death or illness of a passenger or his close relatives. Each case of airline ticket refunds is dealt with individually, requiring supporting documents: a certificate from the embassy or hospital.

Non-refundable flights

The hardest part is getting money back for non-refundable flights. They are labeled Non Ref (Non Refundable) in the Restrictions section, which means Non Refundable. Even if there is no inscription, carefully study the information "Refunds" and "Exchange" (Change), because buying a ticket, you agree to the terms and conditions of the airline.

Non-refundable air tickets are non-refundable fares, most often they are sold for promotions and special offers. All airlines have such tickets, and this tariff is especially popular with low-cost airlines: "", and others. It is prohibited to return non-refundable air tickets, but there are exceptions.

When can non-refundable air tickets be returned?

For non-refundable air tickets, you can get a refund in the following cases:

  • Diseases of a passenger, a member of his family or a relative who flies with him on the flight.
  • Death of a passenger's family member or close relative.
  • Cancellation of flight due to flight delay.

These cases must be documented before the end of check-in for the flight and medical certificates must be submitted to the airline.

For non-refundable air tickets, you can return part of the money in the amount of the airport tax without a valid reason or documentary evidence. This is stated in the rules of the Air Code. The airline will not refund an amount equal to the fare of a non-refundable ticket.

How to exchange tickets

A hassle-free exchange for another flight is rare and in most cases you will have to pay extra for it. The amount of the surcharge is calculated from the amount of the fine and the difference in the cost of tariffs. The rules are the same: the cheaper the air ticket, the more expensive its exchange. Business class flights are generally exempt from commission. If you want to exchange air tickets, then do it as early as possible and be sure to before the plane takes off. Compare the terms of return and exchange - sometimes it is more profitable to return the current ticket and buy a new one.

How to return air tickets if you are late for your flight

Refunds in case of a missed flight depend on the fare and the airline's rules. Most likely, the money for the ticket will not be refunded, or a serious fine will be deducted. As soon as you realize that you are running late, immediately call the airline and warn about it. This will get you back at least a part of the air ticket price - airport tax. If you are late for check-in, but the departure has not yet been announced, run to the counter and try to solve the problem with the airline employees. Some air carriers make concessions and allow air tickets to be exchanged.

How long to wait for money after the return of air tickets

The exact time for a refund depends on the date of the application, the method of payment and the airline. If you ordered air tickets through a bank card, then the transfer will be sent to the same card within 5 days to 2 months.

It is necessary to issue a refund of air tickets where they were bought: on the website of the airline or ticket agency through the feedback form or by e-mail. Prepare a copy of your passport, air tickets and details - recipient's account, full name of the bank, BIC and correspondent account. If the letter or application is not answered within 3 days, you need to call and find out the reason.

If you want to reduce risks, choose a tariff with flexible return terms. Look for information on fares on the airline's website. The most favorable conditions for refunds and exchange are valid for business class tickets, the most inconvenient are non-refundable air tickets. Do not forget that you can return or exchange tickets only where you bought them.

Losses from ticket refunds depend on your curiosity when buying and your financial capabilities. More specifically, when buying a ticket, you can calculate the risk of a ticket refund and specify how much you will receive in case of a refund.

As a rule, there is a rule - the more money you pay for the ticket, the more you will receive when you return it.

There is no single rule for refunds, as in the last century, when 75% of the cost was returned for a surrendered ticket, now there is no such thing. This is due to the fact that modern airlines have at least three service classes and 21 tariffs.

Each ticket is unique and the “75%” rule is no longer valid

What are fares - these are special conditions when buying a ticket, which are paid. These can be student discounts, the ability to reschedule the departure date, a fixed fine for refunds or postponements, and a million other options. That is why each ticket can be unique, as it consists of combinations of the class of service and the fare chosen by the passenger. Therefore, on the plane, passengers sitting next to each other may be paid different amounts for a ticket. All these fares are indicated in Latin letters and are recorded in the ticket in the column - ENDORSEMENTS / RESTRICTIONS.

And now a little about the rules that airlines use.

First.
There are 2 types of ticket refunds:
voluntary - the passenger, on his own initiative, returns the ticket without good reason. In this case, all fines and penalties apply. The lower the ticket price, the higher the restrictions and the lower the amount received upon refund.

Forced - the airline did not fulfill its obligations to the passenger (the flight was canceled, rescheduled, the connection was not provided during the transfer, the paid class of service was not provided) or in the event of the death of the passenger or his family members, if there is a supporting document. In this case, the entire amount paid is returned. Some airlines accept visa refusal as a good reason and fully refund the amount paid.

Secondly.
Tickets are:
surrendered - when you return the ticket, you receive all the money, except for the booking fee, issuing (usually small amounts of $ 20-30.)
surrendered with a fine - upon refund, you will be refunded the entire amount, with the exception of the fine for the refund. For example, Transaero charges 50 euros or more for the return of a ticket purchased at the full fare of the Imperial class for an international flight more than 24 hours in advance, depending on the season.
non-refundable tickets - these tickets cannot be returned. NON REF is written in the ENDORSEMENTS / RESTRICTIONS column in the ticket. This means that no matter what you want, the ticket is non-refundable. Usually these are tickets bought at the lowest prices, on sales, on promotions. But even in this case, some amount will be returned to you - these are various fees.

Tentative tickets - these tickets are handed over only under certain conditions, they are returned, but there are so many fines for the return that the amount received will not reimburse the physical and moral costs.

Third:
1. For charter flights, the customer sets his own conditions and penalties for ticket refunds.
2. Tickets purchased on low-cost airlines are in most cases non-refundable.

3. Refunds made less than 24 hours before departure will be penalized for higher amounts than if the refund was made more than 25 hours in advance. Business class tickets allow ticket refunds even after the plane has departed.

4. In any case, VAT will be returned to you when you return your ticket.
5. You need to return the ticket where you bought it. When buying online - on the airline's website.

6. Children's tickets are refunded in the same way as adults.

7. Refunds will depend on the method of payment (cash, bank account, bank card).
8. When buying a ticket in foreign currency, the refund amount is calculated at the exchange rate on the day of return.

9. In any case, you need to get a confirmation from the airline about the possibility of returning the ticket.

But in Europe, airlines pay their passengers monetary compensation for flight delays - 25% of the ticket price for each hour of delay.
So decide for yourself - fly or return the ticket!