First you need to understand and know that there are different ticket fares and booking classes. And depending on this very tariff and the time of ticket return, the refund amount changes Money. General rule This is: the cheaper the ticket, the greater the losses incurred when it is exchanged or returned.
Those who have purchased so-called premium tickets and business class tickets have an advantage. In this case, the fines are minimal or non-existent. But the price for such a ticket is significantly higher.
Economy class tickets have stricter conditions. Either part of the ticket price or only taxes are refunded. The fee includes fuel surcharge, airport taxes, and agent services.
Return Policy
Economy class tickets are different: regular, regular premium, discounted, promotional, group. There are about 17 of them. All of them are designated by letters (codes). When you book your tickets, check which class you are purchasing and read conditions of purchase, return, exchange and baggage check-in.
Return tickets from low-cost airlines such as airbaltic, airiasia are practically impossible . They usually only refund airport taxes. And at the same time, the request for a refund must be given almost a month before the departure date.
An example of a return from the low-cost airline airbaltic.
In any case, before buying a ticket, read the fare conditions and ticket return rules.
Reasons for returning an air ticket
The legal basis for the forced return of a ticket, according to which you or, God forbid, your relatives, are obliged to return full price, counts:
- - flight delay for more than 3 hours
- - due to the airline itself (the flight was cancelled)
- - official visa refusal (show a copy of your passport with a visa refusal)
- - illness of a passenger with forced hospitalization
- - death of a close relative
All these return options are considered individually by the airline itself.
Tickets are not refundable if you do not fly due to illness (without forced hospitalization), personal problems, or the passenger simply does not show up for the flight.
They will not refund your ticket if you are flying as a package. You will have to hand over the entire package.
Refund deadlines for air tickets
The sooner you return your ticket, the more money you can return it for it. Remember, if you bought inexpensive tickets (at a promotion, with a discount), then most likely you will not be able to get the full amount back. Most companies will charge you some percentage for canceling your flight.
If you notify the airline 24 hours or more before departure, you may receive a refund of the amount you paid for your ticket less airline fees. If you cancel your flight less than 24 hours before departure, then you will be refunded the amount minus a fee, the amount of which does not exceed 25% of the total cost ticket
Where can I return an air ticket?
Refunds are made at the same place where you purchased the ticket.
- 1. Directly from the airline via the Internet or through the ticket office.
- 2. Through intermediary brokers.
And I’ll repeat it again: Again, read the refund conditions when purchasing a ticket.
Conditions for returning/exchanging tickets from Aeroflot
Online A refund is only possible if you purchased your ticket online. If you purchase a ticket through the box office, the refund is made through the box office or at the company's information and reservation center.
Ticket return procedure
Tickets are refunded only to the person who issued this ticket. Ticket money will be refunded to third parties only if there is a notarized power of attorney.
The ticket can be returned at the same place where you bought it.
- - If you bought at the cash register, go to the cash register. Bring your passport and air ticket with you. On the spot, you will write an application for a refund of the ticket (keep a copy of the application for yourself). Check the terms for refunds.
- - If you purchased online directly from the airline. Go to the airline's website, go to your Personal Area, find the booked air ticket (booking section). Read the terms and conditions for ticket refunds again. Select the “Cancel” or “Return” button, or “Cancel” in the English version. Click on the button and then follow the instructions that will be offered to you.
If you do not have a personal account on the website, then find the support phone number on the website, call them and ask how to return the ticket. Before calling, place your passport and ticket next to you, where your reservation number is indicated.
- - If you bought a ticket online from an agent company. The steps are the same as I described above. If you don’t have a personal account, look for the phone number on the website and call. Before calling, please place your passport and ticket next to each other, where your reservation number will be indicated.
Conclusion: troubles happen. They don't depend on us. By knowing our rights and acting carefully, we can get out of trouble with little or no loss.
In what cases can you get a refund for air tickets?
The conditions for refunding plane tickets depend on the reasons. If the return of air tickets is voluntary and the passenger, for personal reasons, refuses the flight, then he agrees with the airline’s terms and fines.
The amount that an airline will refund for unused air tickets depends on their fare. The cheaper the fare, the less chance you have of selling your tickets. If you are planning a charter flight, economy class, or purchasing a promotional offer, please note that if you cancel the trip, you will not be refunded the full cost of the air tickets, and you will have to pay extra when exchanging.
Refund of air tickets due to the fault of the airline
A passenger can return the full cost of air tickets in the event of a forced refund, which occurs due to the fault of the airline.
- Flight rescheduling or cancellation for more than 3 hours.
- The flight is not operating as scheduled.
- Changing the flight route.
- Failure of the airline to provide connecting flights.
- Lack of space on the plane (overbooking or overbooking).
- Delay of a passenger due to inspection at the airport (if during inspection no substances and items prohibited for transportation were found).
A refund of the full cost of air tickets is 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 airline ticket refund case is examined individually, requiring supporting documents: a certificate from the embassy or hospital.
Non-refundable air tickets
The hardest thing to do is get your money back non-refundable air tickets. They are marked with the inscription Non Ref (Non Refundable) in the “Restrictions” section, which means “Not Refundable.” Even if there is no inscription, carefully study the information “Refunds” and “Exchange” (Change), because by purchasing 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 through promotions and special offers. All airlines have such tickets, and this fare is especially popular with low-cost airlines: Pobeda, airBaltic, Wizz Air, EasyJet, Ryanair and others. It is prohibited to return non-refundable air tickets, but there are exceptions.
In what cases can non-refundable air tickets be returned?
You can get a refund for non-refundable air tickets in the following cases:
- Illness of a passenger, a member of his family or a relative who is traveling with him on the flight.
- Death of a passenger's family member or close relative.
- Flight cancellation 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 get a portion of the money back 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 return an amount equal to the fare of a non-refundable air ticket.
How to exchange air 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 it is to exchange it.
Business class air tickets are generally exempt from commission. If you want to exchange air tickets, do it as early as possible and always before the plane takes off. Compare the terms of return and exchange - sometimes it is more profitable to return your current air ticket and buy a new one.
How to get your air tickets back if you miss your flight
Refund of air tickets if a flight is missed depends on the fare and rules of the airline. Most likely, the money for the air ticket will not be returned, or a serious fine will be deducted. As soon as you realize that you are late, immediately call the airline and warn about it.
This way you will get back at least part of the cost of the air ticket - the airport tax. If you are late for check-in, but the flight has not yet been announced, run to the counter and try to solve the problem with the airline staff. Some air carriers make concessions and allow you to exchange air tickets.
How long to wait for money after returning air tickets
The exact refund period depends on the date of application, payment method and airline. If you ordered air tickets through a bank card, the transfer will arrive on the same card within 5 days to 2 months.
You must issue a refund for air tickets where you bought them: on the airline’s website or ticket agency using the form feedback or by email. Prepare a copy of your passport, air tickets and details - the recipient's account, full name of the bank, BIC and correspondent account. If a letter or application is not answered within 3 days, you must call and find out the reason.
If you want to reduce risks, choose a tariff with flexible return conditions. Look for information about fares on the airline's website. The most profitable terms for returns and exchanges apply to business class tickets, the most inconvenient are non-refundable air tickets. Do not forget that you can return or exchange air tickets only where you bought them.
Is it possible to get a refund for air tickets purchased online?
Online ticket purchasing services exist in every airline. Each potential passenger has the opportunity to purchase tickets from any place convenient for him and to any convenient time. It is necessary to distinguish between the direct purchase of tickets and their reservation.
Purchasing tickets on the airline's website involves selecting the desired flight and mandatory payment for a travel document using specialized online services. Ticket booking is a special service that assigns the right to purchase a ticket to a specific passenger. That is, when booking, no payment is made, and the passenger only receives a guarantee that a travel document has been issued in his name, which still has to be received and paid for at the company’s office or at sales points.
Due to the fact that every person may have situations in which he is forced to cancel planned flights, he is faced with important question, how to return your air ticket correctly and with minimal losses and get your money back.
When booking air tickets, you do not need to return anything directly, since the airline did not provide anything other than guarantees for the purchase of tickets. If a passenger’s plans change and he is unable to use the company’s services, he can simply not buy the booked ticket. Naturally, there cannot be any material losses in this case.
The return of a ticket purchased via the Internet, that is, one for which payment has already been made, is carried out according to the rules of a particular airline. Ticket return rules are published on the company’s website and passengers have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with them before purchasing. This must be done in every case, since only then can one say in advance whether a refund of air tickets is possible and what financial losses will result.
When returning tickets purchased using online services, be prepared to pay a fine.
The actual penalties do not depend on how exactly the ticket was purchased. The amount of the fine directly depends on the price of the air ticket. That is, the more expensive the ticket, the less the fine you will have to pay to return it. This rule applies to almost all airlines. Some companies do not impose financial penalties on passengers who return tickets at all.
If a ticket is purchased as part of a promotion carried out by the airline and with a significant discount, then the usual refund for it, as a rule, is not made. Such a ticket can only be exchanged for another flight.
The amount of the fine depends on how much time remains before departure. The less time left before the flight, the greater the amount of the fine withheld from the passenger.
It is also possible that a ticket purchased via the Internet cannot be returned at all. This condition must be specified during the sale and a note about it is made on the ticket form.
The procedure for returning an air ticket purchased online has its own characteristics. First, you need to fill out a special ticket refund form, which is available on every website where plane tickets are sold.
The completed application along with a scan of the passport for which the ticket was purchased is sent to email address air carrier.
The application must contain the following information:
- last name, first name, patronymic of the passenger;
- flight number and departure date;
- indication of the method of purchasing an air ticket;
- details of a bank account, bank card or electronic wallet for transferring refunded money.
Please note that if you purchased an air ticket through a travel agency, the entire refund procedure must be carried out through this operator.
An application for a ticket refund will only be accepted from the person in whose name the ticket was purchased. If the return is carried out by another person, he must have a notarized power of attorney for the right to perform such an action.
This concludes the actions that a passenger must take when returning air tickets purchased via the Internet. He can only wait for the airline to review his application and return the money. Don't expect this to happen in shortest time. Sometimes the time from submitting an application for a ticket refund to receiving a direct refund is several weeks.
Money can be transferred to a bank card, to an electronic wallet, to a current account or, less commonly, in cash. Details for transferring funds must be provided to the airline along with the application.
In order to minimize losses from the return of air tickets purchased via the Internet, you must carefully study the carrier company's rules for such returns. Financial losses, as a rule, are inevitable, but each person has the power to reduce them.
How to get back the money spent on an air ticket with minimal losses
The relationship between the air carrier and the passenger is regulated by the Air Code of the Russian Federation, and more specifically by Articles 103 and 108 of this document. In fact, it all depends on the integrity of the airline and the demands of the client. And, of course, let’s not discount some agreements, thanks to which transport services protected themselves from the risks of refunds for unused tickets.
How does the state regulate the issue of refunds for air tickets?
According to Article 103 of the VC, the passenger has the full right to a refund of the amount for the “carriage fee”, which is specified in the contract. The money must be returned at the time of termination of the agreement. The law states that the carrier is obliged to notify about the conditions for receiving money for the ticket before concluding the contract. It turns out that the airline can still set some rules - to please itself, of course.
Now about Article 108 of the VK, point by point:
- The passenger must notify the carrier of termination of the contract no later than one day before the end of check-in for the flight.
- The refund amount is calculated as the cost of the ticket minus the costs incurred by the carrier.
- If the passenger notified the airline less than 24 hours before the end of check-in, the refund amount is reduced by 25% (for example: from 10 thousand rubles to 7.5 thousand rubles).
- The carrier has the right not to pay money if the client decides to terminate the contract of carriage after check-in for the flight has ended. It turns out that if you are late for the plane, you will be refunded exactly 0 rubles for your ticket. 0 kopecks.
- The agreement may be concluded with the condition of non-refund of the amount paid for the ticket. We are talking here about 100% non-refund of funds spent.
Of course, the state has provided for the option of forced refusal to transport by air due to the death of a close relative. But there are also “buts” here - you will have to notify the carrier 24 hours before departure, and the fact of death will still need to be documented. This exception applies to both refundable and non-refundable tickets.
How to return the cost of an air ticket purchased from Aeroflot
In June 2014, Aeroflot announced the introduction of non-refundable tickets on Budget and Promo fares. The message was made immediately after the corresponding changes in the RF CC.
The innovation also affected the “Optimum” tariff. A fixed penalty for returns was established (instead of the old 25%). At the same time, the company clarified that a warning about refusal of transportation less than 40 minutes before the established limit automatically transfers the ticket to “non-refundable” status.
According to the terms of the Contract of Carriage, the passenger is obliged to verbally notify Aeroflot of the termination of the contract at any sales office or authorized person at the place of purchase of the ticket. Written notification should be sent by registered mail to the address Moscow, st. Arbat, 10. When paying for a ticket with a debit or credit card the money is returned to where it was withdrawn.
List of documents that need to be prepared to carry out the procedure for refunding money for an air ticket:
- Identification. If the application is not submitted by a passenger, a certified agreement on the transfer of authority to a person who acts in the interests of the airline client is required.
- Statement of the established form. Average term consideration of your application – 1-3 months.
- Other documents.
The Aeroflot website lists the option of returning tickets on-line, that is, without visiting offices. To do this you will have to call the Information and Reservation Service by phone 8-800-444-5555.
The principle of working with clients is similar for each airline. To find out more details on how to return the money paid for your carrier’s ticket, please study the corresponding section on the company’s website.
Sales intermediaries: will they return the money you spent on an air ticket?
A fairly common occurrence: buying a ticket through an online intermediary, for example, Ozon Travel. Note that Ozon, like other similar companies, offer to buy a seat not only on Russian, but also on foreign flights.
We are asked to log into our personal account and click on the “Return and Exchange” button located directly opposite the order. There you will need to fill out an application, based on the points of which seats on the plane will be canceled and the refund amount will be calculated.
Ozon notifies that:
- Foreign carriers most often enter into non-refundable contracts.
- The sooner you submit your application, the greater your chances of avoiding maximum losses.
- Some airlines may refund money for an air ticket if a passenger is officially denied a visa.
The intermediary, as well as the airline, will transfer the refund to the account from which payment for the flight was made.
Purchasing an air ticket several months before a holiday trip - a great opportunity save money from family budget. This is especially beneficial if you periodically go on business trips. However, we should not forget that sometimes unforeseen events happen to every person. What to do if plans change and the trip is cancelled?
As a rule, when a person experiences force majeure, he is not able to calmly think about the situation. And develop an action plan too. Therefore, you need to think through the situation if the trip is canceled and you need to return your plane tickets in advance.
Methods for carrying out the procedure for returning purchased flight tickets
Situations when you need to return an air ticket can arise for several main reasons:
- For a number of reasons, the air carrier cannot fulfill its obligations to transport the passenger. In this case, a forced return occurs;
- The passenger's plans have changed, and the refund is due to the passenger's fault. Such a return is called voluntary.
If the airline itself is the culprit for the deal failure, then everything happens easier. A forced return occurs without any extra charges. Companies return money and pay compensation to clients due in this case.
What is a forced return?
As a rule, the reasons for forced return are:
- For technical reasons, the company cancels or postpones the flight departure. There may be a long delay that the client is not happy with;
- There are problems with connecting flights if a passenger chooses flights with connecting flights;
- The plane's landing route has changed at its destination;
- The passenger was subjected to a lengthy search and missed his flight. At the same time, no items prohibited for transportation were found on him;
- The client was refused a visa;
- Due to the fault of the employee, errors were found in the travel document, which led to the ticket being invalid;
- The ticket indicated a seat, which in fact was not provided to the passenger;
- The passenger became seriously ill or died, or an accident occurred to one of his family members.
If the situations described above occur, then the passenger has every reason to demand the full amount he spent on the ticket. However, in order to be able to demand a full refund, he must provide a package of documents that can prove that a forced refund is taking place.
If the return is considered forced, then the airline employees will return the entire amount and pay compensation.
In the event that a refund is required due to cancellation or long delay in departure of a flight, a number of conditions must be met:
- Contact the check-in service, or directly the representative of the airline where you purchased the ticket. Do this before you check in for your flight. The support service must confirm the reason and put the appropriate mark on the ticket and the carrier’s stamp;
- Pick up your flight coupon. This must be done if information that the flight is delayed or canceled appears after the check-in procedure has been completed. This condition must be met, because otherwise your ticket will be considered already used if it does not have a coupon.
Having done everything the necessary conditions, you have every right to demand payment of monetary compensation in full.
What is voluntary return?
If such a situation arises, the passenger must be aware of the existence of his rights. The fact is that not all carriers in the case voluntary return agree to help the client.
At the same time, the rules governing the return of air tickets are prescribed in Art. 108 of the Air Code of the Russian Federation. This document reflects the passenger’s right to refuse the carrier’s services at any time, provided that the company has received notification of the refusal of services from the client.
It is worth paying attention to the circumstance! The passenger has the right by law to exercise the right to receive monetary compensation. However, the amount of the monetary payment will depend on how long before departure the company received notification of the client’s refusal of services.
If you already know for sure that the flight will not take place, then you need to inform about this as soon as such a circumstance arises.
Note! If the company receives notification from the passenger that he refuses its services one day before the flight departure, the passenger has every right to receive a 100% refund of the ticket price.
However, if the passenger decides to return the ticket in less than 24 hours, then the company may face penalties for the fact that the passenger caused financial losses to it. However, the company cannot raise more than 25% of the ticket price!
Which air tickets are non-refundable?
Often, passengers, trying to save money on flights, purchase tickets for charter flights. Of course, such tickets are attractively priced.
However, there is a rule that has been in force since 2014 and was approved by the Federation Council of Russia. There is a law on non-refundable plane tickets. Air carriers have the right to offer such tickets for sale provided that they do not exceed 30% of all tickets for a given flight. Such tickets are priced in economy class. The discount on them ranges from 15-20%.
How can I return a ticket purchased online?
In the event that the ticket is purchased through official portal carrier, then the refund will take place in the same way. Let's understand the situation using a specific example.
So, you have purchased an e-ticket from Ural Airlines. However, you encountered circumstances that made future travel impossible. What should be done?
Returns are processed exclusively through your personal account, which is located directly on the carrier’s website. Please note that this must be the official website of the airline!
- Go to the “Order Check” section;
- Find and open your order;
- Click the "Return" button, which is located at the bottom of the page;
- Use the "Confirm" button.
Note! That once you click on the “Return” button, canceling the action will be impossible!
Cancellation of a seat on a flight by telephone
In order to return your own funds, draw up a document (application) in which you indicate personal information (full name, information from your passport, as well as your ticket number). You can write an application at free style. After this, you need to use your personal email and send your application to email carrier.
If all actions were done correctly, then after the company confirms the refund, you will receive an email response confirming the operation and indicating the refund amount. As a rule, within 24 hours the funds are credited to the bank card from which the payment was made.
If the ticket was purchased through an agency
The law allows you to return an electronic plane ticket even if it was purchased through an agency. To do this you need to take several steps:
- Fill out the form for a refund on the agency’s website;
- Make a scan of your passport and attach it to the application form.
Note! Before applying for a refund, check the status of your air ticket and make sure that the procedure can be completed!
If the ticket status is marked “Restricted” or “nonrefundable” is written in English, then such a ticket is classified as non-refundable. Additionally, agency fees are non-refundable.
Features of returning economy class tickets back to the airline
Let's determine how the tariff can affect the ability to make a refund for a ticket.
Most agencies link airline ticket refunds to tariff plans. All tariffs that apply to carriers are divided into several types:
- Tickets purchased at a business class fare can usually be returned without any difficulties. But it is unlikely that you will be able to avoid a fine;
- Premium class. Such travel documents are subject to a refund in the amount of 100% of their cost, even if the passenger does not show up for the flight. Such tickets have quite a decent price, which is already included in their price. Therefore, the company's likely losses are already justified;
- Economy class tickets. If a passenger who purchased a ticket at this fare refuses the flight, then the company’s losses are quite significant. Therefore, most often, carriers are reluctant to refund money for such tickets.
Note! By purchasing a ticket at a low price, you are taking a risk. In practice, it can be difficult to return such a ticket. It is even more difficult to obtain monetary compensation for it.
How are economy class tickets refunded?
Before purchasing a cheap ticket, you should first find out the features of returning such a travel document.
Don't forget that there are different situations in life. It is necessary to clarify the possibility of returning a ticket before paying its cost.
Return conditions are usually indicated on the company's website. You should definitely read them!
After reading the refund conditions, you will have an idea of whether it is possible to return the ticket or whether it is non-refundable. By purchasing tickets on a promotion or under the terms of a sale, you expose yourself to a certain risk - most often it turns out to be impossible to return them.
In the event that a ticket is not purchased as part of the promotion, then standard conditions for its return will apply.
- You can receive full cash compensation. This opportunity provided for when flying within Russia, if the carrier has received a 24-hour notice;
- If the carrier received notice less than 24 hours in advance, then he has the right to impose a fine of 25% of the ticket price. A similar fine will be imposed when traveling on an international flight with less than 24 hours notice;
- The company has the right to impose penalties in the amount of 10% in the event that an international flight ticket is refunded upon receipt of less than 24 hours notice.
Refunds occur in the same way as receiving money when paying for a ticket. This can be in cash, transfer to a bank account or to a payment card, or to online wallet. In the same way as in the case of a forced return, a corresponding mark is placed on the ticket form.
In the stormy bustle of days, the frantic rhythm in which personal interests are firmly intertwined with professional needs, the fastest possible crossing of space has become an integral attribute modernity. Passenger air transportation is probably one of those exceptional benefits of civilization, which has significantly accelerated its progress. However, no matter how perfect the machine that cuts through the air is, the human factor is present everywhere and in everything. This means that sometimes there is a need to cancel a flight, both on the part of the airline and on the part of the passenger.
Types of flight cancellations
Air ticket refunds can be forced or voluntary. In the first case, the passenger has the right to a full refund of the entire amount of money. Such situations, as a rule, are spelled out in the manuals of all air carriers. More general norms are also regulated by state legislation. Such cases include the situation when a flight is cancelled, postponed or quite seriously delayed due to the fault of the airline.
A sufficient basis for demanding a refund is a change in destination by the air carrier, cancellation of a connecting flight during a transfer, or a change in class of service. In addition, the cause may be the death of a passenger or a member of his family. In addition, refusal to issue a visa, if provided for by the rules of the air carrier, may also serve as grounds for a refund of money for air tickets.
Voluntary flight cancellation
If the initiator of the return of air tickets is the passenger himself, this is called a voluntary refusal of the flight. In aviation practice, there is a certain unspoken set of rules for resolving issues with the return of funds paid for a plane ticket. However, the main regulatory document is the list internal rules, which guide the air carrier. Thus, decisions to introduce appropriate restrictions or fines in specific situation depend on the carrier.
It is also worth mentioning that the transportation of people by air in Russia is regulated by the Air Code. Compensation for client losses due to reasons caused by the air carrier or the passenger himself is also prescribed by separate provisions of this Code.
Probably the most general rule, relevant for all airlines, is that the cheaper the ticket, the greater the financial losses the passenger who cancels the flight will suffer. This is also true for another rule, according to which the airline’s commission will be greater, the less time remains between the moment the ticket is returned and the departure of the plane.
Refund Conditions
Considering that the return of air tickets involves financial losses for the air carrier, the latter tries to protect itself as much as possible, especially given the minimum time during which the air tickets are returned. Refund conditions regarding the direct relationship between the time interval remaining before departure and the amount of compensation for the ticket must be spelled out in detail on the official website of any airline.
So, if about your refusal to fly within the territory Russian Federation the passenger notified the airline more than 24 hours before departure, he can expect a refund of the full cost of the air ticket without charging any fees fixed in the company's tariffs. If there is less than a day left before departure, the airline reimburses the client for the amount paid for the ticket, withholding 25% of the fees, according to aviation tariffs.
Refunds of tickets for international flights provide for the deduction of 10% of the fees if the client requests a cancellation of the flight more than a day before departure, and 25% of the fees if the cancellation took place less than a day before. The minimum threshold for requesting an urgent refund is four hours before departure. From the moment check-in for a flight begins, increased fines and commissions apply to such requests. Many airlines also provide penalties for failure to show up for a flight - their size can be 25 euros.
Refund methods
Refunding air tickets involves returning money in the same way as it was paid for, i.e. in cash, by transfer to a bank account, bank card or e-wallet. It must be remembered that in any circumstances under which air tickets may be refunded, the conditions of all airlines require that a corresponding mark be placed on the ticket. Only if there is one, the money will be returned.
When returning money to a current account, you must provide the following information: full name or full name of the recipient, TIN, name, as well as TIN and bank correspondent account and, in fact, the current account itself.
In order for the money to be transferred back to the electronic wallet, you must also provide your full name, wallet number and name payment system. To return to a bank card, you only need to indicate the order number.
Aeroflot rules
When regulating the refund of an air ticket, Aeroflot on its website provides details only about documents purchased online. The return is also recorded online or at the carrier’s contact center. The procedure is carried out in accordance with the company's tariffs. Such a refund is only possible if the ticket is original, that is, it has not been changed or partially used. The airline transfers funds to the passenger within ten working days from the moment the refund request is recorded. However, returns are not subject to penalties.
Where to contact
If you need to cancel your flight various reasons, often many are faced with the question of where to actually apply with this request. It's very simple: go to where you purchased the ticket. However, it happens that you cannot do this because you are in another city or another country. Then the Internet will come to the rescue. A request to remove yourself from a flight can be sent to the airline's email. If the ticket was purchased through a travel agency, then cancellation or change of dates must be made through them.
Refund of tickets purchased through aggregates
Today, purchasing tickets through so-called aggregates has become quite popular. These are special sites that process all information about air tickets from all airlines and agencies to any destination. As a rule, their main task is to search optimal options on price, quality and flight time. It must be remembered that the units do not issue tickets themselves, they only compile the information. Therefore, when the need arises to refund air tickets, you should not contact the site administration, but the agency or airline. The email that the customer receives immediately after booking contains the agency's details, as well as information about the route. If the email did not arrive, it most likely ended up in the spam folder.
Features of electronic tickets
The rules for returning air tickets purchased via the Internet (so-called electronic tickets) are the same as for returning paper documents. However, there are some nuances. The most important thing is to determine the status of the ticket, i.e. find out whether it is possible to return it. A note about this is placed in the “restriction” column. On English language it looks like this: non ref or non refundable, which means that it is impossible to return this ticket. If there is no such mark, then on the website of the agency through which the travel document was purchased, you need to fill out a form, attach a scan of your passport to it and send it. If you purchased a ticket from a travel agency, refund of electronic air tickets is possible only through this company.
The refund method depends on the type of air ticket. How long does it take to return a plane ticket? For which air ticket you will get your money back, and for which one not – read our article.
Type of air tickets
- Air tickets purchased through the ticket office at the airport.
- Air tickets purchased online.
In this article we will look at the method of returning the second type of air tickets
Reasons for return
- A passenger is late for a flight for no reason.
- A passenger is late for a flight due to an accident.
- Exchange of ticket for another date.
- Canceling the trip altogether.
- Flight cancellation or rescheduling.
Which air tickets cannot be returned?
Most air tickets purchased through the site can be returned in the same way as regular tickets purchased at the box office. However:
- Tickets marked “Non Ref” cannot be returned. “Non Ref” means “irrevocable”. Tickets with this mark are considered the most affordable, sell out in a matter of hours and cannot be returned or exchanged.
- Tickets purchased through a promotion, discount system or sale (can be exchanged for a ticket on a different date).
How to return an air ticket purchased online?
Depends:
- How much time is left before the flight starts. The sooner you decide to return your ticket, the less problems this procedure will bring.
- From the airline from which it was purchased. Each carrier has its own conditions for returning an unused air ticket.
- From the ticket price. According to statistics, business class air tickets are returned more easily and with fewer “losses” than economy class tickets.
How long before a refund can be made?
- If you return your ticket 24 hours (or more) in advance, you will be refunded the full cost of the ticket. The passenger is charged a fee. Some airlines add penalties to the return procedure.
- If the ticket is returned in less than 24 hours, the passenger will be offered a refund of seventy-five percent of the ticket price paid + commission and, depending on the company, penalties.
- If the ticket is returned 4 hours before boarding the plane, the passenger gets back seventy-five percent of the cost of the ticket + commission + penalties.
- If you try to return a ticket less than 4 hours before boarding or after the start of the flight, the cost of the return will be reduced, and the amount of penalties may be increased several times.
Warning
Keep in mind! Sometimes it is easier to pay penalties and reissue an air ticket for another calendar day than to return the ticket and purchase a new one yourself.
Where and how can I make a return?
Flight number.Return electronic air ticket You can either at the airport ticket office, just like a regular ticket purchased in a different way, or on the website on which you issued an electronic ticket. To return you will need the following information:
- Number of the purchased ticket.
- Reservation number.
- Departure time.
- Calendar day of departure.
Access to the above data is available to you in an email to the mail you provided when booking. If you are returning an air ticket through the airport ticket office, then in order not to search for all the data yourself, you can print out the letter you received from the airline and simply show it at the ticket office. There they will help you figure out what and where to include in the application.
If you issue a return through the website, the procedure is as follows:
- On the website where you purchased your ticket, find the refund section.
- In this section, you fill out an electronic application in which you enter all the data about the purchased air ticket (listed in the previous section of the article) and attach a photo or scanned copy of your passport with the data entered on the ticket.
- If you return a purchased e-ticket through the airport ticket office, the return procedure is similar to the electronic one.
- If you want to issue a refund for an air ticket purchased from a travel agency, the refund procedure will be similar to the previous two.
How long will it take for the passenger to receive the money?
The refund period for an unused air ticket depends on when you applied for a refund, how you paid for it and on the method of purchasing it (airport, tour operator, Internet). On average, the return period is from ten days to three months.
Ticket refunds can occur:
- Cash at the cash register.
- To a bank card.
- To an electronic account.
How to speed up the refund process?
If you paid for your ticket using a bank card, then:
- When requesting a ticket refund, please provide the passenger’s personal information (full name)
- Bank name and current account number.
- Bank identification code.
- Correspondent account.
Information
If you are filing a refund by proxy, but in the application indicate the personal information of the person for whom the ticket was purchased, as well as the information on the card of his bank and account.
If you paid for the ticket via an electronic wallet, then in the application you must indicate:
- Full name of the passenger for whom the ticket was purchased.
- Electronic account number.
- Type of this account (webmoney, Yandex.money, qiwi, etc.)
Is it possible to exchange a returned air ticket for another departure date?
It depends only on the airline from which the ticket was purchased. If an exchange is possible, the passenger will have to pay penalties.
There are usually no penalties when exchanging a business class air ticket.
A change in plans, a sudden illness, or the cancellation of an upcoming event can all be reasons that prompt you to cancel your pre-purchased plane ticket. Since most people today buy air tickets via the Internet, it is necessary to know the procedure for returning them. How to return a plane ticket purchased online? You can return it quite simply, the main thing is to follow a few simple rules.
Air ticket delivery conditions
Rest assured, you will be able to return the ticket you paid for online back to the air carrier, but The amount of refund for a returned ticket will depend on three factors:
- Airfare;
- The period of time remaining before departure;
- Reason for return.
The so-called “tariff” is what it is detailed description return and exchange conditions, which you must familiarize yourself with when purchasing a ticket online. Since most people overlook it when purchasing, they simply don’t know what to do when they need to return the money they spent. You can find the “fare” of your ticket on the airline’s website. Each company has its own return conditions, but there are several common points:
- The more expensive the ticket, the lower the penalty for returning it;
- The sooner you contact the airline for a refund, the a large amount it will be possible to reimburse.
Advice: if you are late for your flight or for some reason you are detained by security, you have the right to return the ticket you purchased online even after the plane has departed. In this case, you can reschedule the flight - such a decision will be more profitable than a return.
If there is more than a day left before departure, the airline often retains only a small refund fee, refunding almost the full cost of the ticket (especially in business class).
Article 108 of the Russian Air Code stipulates the airline’s obligation to return the entire amount for the ticket. However, the disclaimer " grace period» gives companies the right to withhold a fee or impose a fine if you return a ticket after the deadline they set. The amount of the commission or fine is determined by the carrier, but the law states that it should not be higher than 25%.
Less than a day before departure? When you return an air ticket, you are unlikely to get back more than 75% of the original price. Try to submit your application at least 4 hours before check-in to be able to receive at least part of the amount paid.
It is worth mentioning that there are tickets on sale that are prohibited from being returned (non ref, non refundable). As a rule, the cheapest tickets purchased via the Internet for a promotion on special conditions fall into this category. The company will not return money for such purchases, but may offer to reschedule the departure date to a later date. late date. However, the Air Code of the Russian Federation does not define non-refundable tickets, so you can always fight for your rights in court.
The reason why an electronic ticket is issued is also of great importance. If this is a forced step, and you can prove this with the appropriate certificates, then it is likely that the carrier will meet you halfway and pay the bulk of the cost, despite the proximity of the departure date.
Advice: if the intermediary refuses to return the money for the ticket, send a corresponding request, accompanied by a letter from the agent, directly to the airline. If the carrier insists that the ticket is “non-refundable,” you can write a letter to the Federal Air Transport Agency with a printout of the email correspondence that took place - the main thing is to do this one day before the expected departure date.
Electronic ticket return procedure
Some people believe that in order to complete the refund procedure, you need to print out a ticket purchased online and contact the airline office. We hasten to please you: everything is much simpler.
You need to find a ticket refund application form on the airline’s website and fill it out, or contact the intermediary from whom the ticket was purchased. If you cannot find the special form, simply write an email to the address listed in the “Contacts” section. To complete the return form you will need the following information:
- Ticket details (document number, flight number, booking code, date and exact time departure);
- Passport scan;
- Receipt confirming the purchase (a bank statement will do).
Traditionally, the airline will return the money in the same way the purchase was paid for - the amount will be credited to the same bank account or to the same e-wallet. The period for consideration of your application will most likely not exceed 10 days, but in some cases the company may take up to a month to clarify all the circumstances.