How to return plane tickets purchased via the Internet? Is it possible to return an electronic ticket for a plane How to return money for plane tickets
Traveling is an opportunity to study, relax, explore the world and be a free person at the same time. This is the best thing that can happen in life, and there is hardly a person who is ready to argue with this. The best way to travel is to buy a plane ticket and go to some distant or not quite country in order to spend time with benefit and leave good impressions and warm memories after the trip.
Many people choose airplanes as their means of transport. It is practical, convenient, fast, safe and comfortable. But, alas, this is one of the most expensive modes of transport (although there are exceptions here). In any case, an airplane flight can make up almost half of the entire vacation budget somewhere in a southern country. But everything happens in life. It happens that the trip is cancelled.
What to do in this case? Can I return a plane ticket? Is it possible to get back at least a small part of the money spent on booking a flight? What do I need to do? Let's try to figure it out together.
How many days can I return the ticket
So, there are two news, according to tradition, one of them is good, the second is not very good. Let's start with the first one. Yes, it is possible to return a plane ticket purchased via the Internet or in any other way. The bad news is that this is not always possible, in some cases they will refuse you, in others they will reimburse only part of your costs, and with some airlines you will have to tinker and even go to court.
But do not rush to get upset, with a competent approach, absolutely everything is possible. The main thing is to observe a few very simple, but important conditions. First time. Yes, the phrase "time is money" here is not just a metaphor, but a rule. If you apply on the day of departure or a few hours before departure, you can expect almost nothing. In fact, each company has its own rules. Of course, they are regulated by laws, but in some cases, the ticket return time is regulated by internal charters. And when you buy a ticket, you automatically agree to the terms of this airline.
Therefore, be careful and study this issue as carefully as possible. For how much you can return a plane ticket is not an easy question. The sooner the better. An even more successful refund operation will be carried out if you inform that you will not fly on this flight at least two days before departure. You can, of course, try to do this before registration, but in this case the process will become more complicated, since it is unprofitable for the airline to lose money. After the end of registration and even more so after departure, tickets become non-refundable.
How much money can be returned
Can I return a plane ticket? Can. But is it possible to get, or rather return, the money spent? In theory, yes, although everything here also depends on the airline. They have their own rates, promotions, conditions and so on. People, as a rule, do not pay attention to such things, and then complain about how bad the airline is that they do not want to return the money, although, according to the law, they seem to have to do this. Few people know that there are initially non-refundable tickets, but we will talk about them a little later. They cannot be called absolutely irrevocable, so at least a small part of the money can still be returned.
Service fees paid when purchasing a ticket are also non-refundable. Also, many airlines impose a fine for returning a ticket, while its size is not fixed in any regulatory legal act, so here each company has its own “appetites”. If you want to know how to return a plane ticket and get a 100% refund, then you should familiarize yourself with the grounds for a ticket refund, which in most cases guarantee a full refund.
Reasons for ticket refund
There are two types of ticket refunds: voluntary and involuntary. In the first case, the passenger returns the ticket for no particular reason. Maybe he has it, but for the airline this reason is not a valid one. For example, if you had a fight with a companion, decided not to fly to this country, or your boss changed his mind about giving you a vacation, then in this case you will most likely not be able to return the full cost of the ticket. But at the same time, there are a number of reasons why the airline is obliged to consider your application and return all the money as soon as possible. This is the so-called forced return of tickets for a direct flight.
Valid reasons that guarantee a return include, for example, an official refusal of a visa. At the same time, you are obliged to document this refusal by providing all the necessary evidence. If the passenger was urgently hospitalized and he also has all the certificates for this, he can expect a refund. At the same time, his companions, who did not fly precisely because of the illness of their friend or relative, will not receive full compensation.
The death of a close relative (wife, parents, children) also allows you to get the money spent on tickets. It will only be necessary to prove kinship and provide a death certificate so that the airline has grounds to issue a refund. There are also a number of reasons for which the carrier itself is to blame: cancellation or serves as a reason for returning the ticket and receiving compensation for its cost.
All such cases are considered on an individual basis. The most important thing is to declare the return in time, at least a day before departure. This is written in all the rules for the return of air tickets. Some companies may consider your application on the same day, but be prepared for the whole procedure to take a week or even a month. This happens extremely rarely, but no one is immune from this.
When will the money come?
As noted above, the most important thing is to provide all the necessary evidence of the reason for the return. You need to do this as soon as possible, then there is every chance that the airline will meet you halfway and solve the problem as soon as possible. But it also happens that returning tickets for a direct flight is a difficult and time-consuming task. What to do in this case? Alas, we can only wait. But as soon as your return is officially recognized as forced, the process of transferring money to your bank card will immediately begin. Usually it takes several business days, in some cases the money has to wait about a week.
How to return an e-ticket
Nowadays, the so-called aggregators are very popular - services that look for the cheapest flights and help you book them right at home. This requires only the Internet. But what to do if you urgently need a plane ticket bought on the Internet?
In fact, the process of returning such a ticket is no different from what was described above. You need to inform the airline about the desire and reason for the return of the ticket, provide evidence that this is an involuntary return and expect money on a bank card. The main thing - do not forget to check if your e-ticket is marked non ref, which means "non-refundable". What to do if you find these words, and whether it is possible to return a ticket for a plane of this type, we will consider right now.
Non-refundable tickets
They are in great demand among air passengers. There is only one reason for this - such tickets are much cheaper than regular ones, so their purchase is more profitable. You are flying on a regular flight, but at a lower price. As a rule, people buy non-refundable tickets knowing for sure that they will fly. But, as mentioned above, life is an unpredictable thing, so sometimes there is a need to return such tickets.
How to get a refund for non-refundable tickets
Fortunately, the law provides for the cases in which you can claim a refund and describes how to return a plane ticket if it is "non-refundable". Of course, the airline suffers losses, but it cannot do anything about it and is obliged to return the money, otherwise the state will deprive it of its license and the right to transport people. In fact, there is nothing fundamentally new here, money for the return of such tickets is provided in the same cases as in the case of a regular ticket. An involuntary return is recognized in the event of your hospitalization, the death of a loved one, or if the carrier itself violated its obligations and delayed or canceled the flight.
findings
Alas, no one is immune from force majeure. Even today you can plan a trip, and a few days before departure, everything can change dramatically. That is why there is an opportunity to return the ticket and the money for it. Remember that it is best to contact the airline representative as soon as possible, provide all evidence that you will not be able to get on the flight and wait for the refund. Of course, it is best not to get into such situations and always get only positive emotions from traveling, but just in case, you should know whether it is possible to return a plane ticket and how to do it correctly.
If you have purchased tickets, but are forced to cancel the flight due to changed plans, you can partially or fully refund the funds. The exchange and return of tickets purchased via the Internet takes place in accordance with the provisions of the companies whose services you use.
Types of air tickets
According to the laws of the Russian Federation, the client always has the right to cancel the trip due to life circumstances. Types of return tickets are:
- voluntary- refusal of their own free will, that is, due to changed plans;
- compelled- refusal due to reasons beyond the control of the person. These include, for example, the illness of a passenger or his relatives who are fellow travelers on this flight.
The amount that the passenger will receive upon its return depends on the type of ticket.
Refusal to return
Under the terms of some companies, they may refuse to return the money, and this will be legal. As a rule, cheap flights are easier to throw away than to return. But sometimes for a fee you can exchange them. Non-refundable tickets are marked like this:
- NON REFUNDABLE;
- NOT PERMITTED.
Other tickets can be returned under certain conditions or due to forced reasons. Before buying, study the features of the tariff so that in the event of a force majeure situation you will not be at a disadvantage.
You can almost always return a ticket
Return air tickets
There are forced reasons that oblige airlines to pay the ticket price:
- Illness of a passenger or his relative, with whom a joint flight was planned.
- Death of a close relative, if the customer notified the airline before check-in began.
- Flight canceled due to delay.
Also, for subjective reasons, the client can return the ticket, if this is provided for by the rules of the airline. As a rule, return tickets are more expensive than non-refundable ones, while the passenger is partially compensated for their cost.
Flight date change
It is allowed to exchange an air ticket if it is provided for by the fare rules established by the airline. If there is such an opportunity, use the recommendations for a successful exchange:
- The earlier you carry out the exchange procedure, the more likely it is that instead of the old ticket you will receive a ticket that fully meets your requirements in terms of its cost, date and time of the flight. A number of airlines allow you to make an exchange earlier than a few hours before check-in.
- Specify under what conditions you will be issued a new ticket. You may have to pay an amount for it that does not fit into your budget. If in return you are offered a less expensive ticket, there is a chance that the difference will not be compensated.
- If you purchased a ticket on the site, the exchange is carried out on it. The site will generate information about whether you need to pay a fee for the exchange procedure and in what amount. The exchange function is not always available on the Internet: if it is not available, contact the airline's ticket office directly.
- After making the exchange through the site, print out a receipt confirming this. You may find it useful when checking in for your flight.
If after the purchase you find an incorrect date, route or other data, immediately contact the airline representative with a request to change the ticket. Often companies offer a free exchange service within a day after purchasing a ticket, even if the fare is non-refundable.
Important! Ticket exchange is not always advisable. For example, if it is very cheap, buying the same ticket on a different date may be more cost effective. Also, do not forget that each subsequent exchange is always more expensive than the previous one.
It is important to know the ticket refund procedure
Subtleties of return in the network
The return of an electronic ticket is carried out on the same website on which you purchased it:
- Go to the site and fill out an application.
- Attach a scan of your passport and a receipt confirming the purchase to the application.
- If there are forced reasons, it is necessary to attach scans of the relevant documents (certificate, death certificate of a relative, etc.).
Attention! If there is no application form, send a letter to the e-mail indicated in the "Contacts" tab with the intention to return the funds. Explain the reason for the return, be sure to specify the booking number, flight number, as well as the time and date of departure.
Is a full refund possible?
The only condition under which you can return the full price of the ticket is the presence of a forced reason. That is, according to the law, one of the following reasons must take place:
- serious illness of the applicant or his relative, who is a traveling companion;
- death of a family member or loved one;
- flight delay due to the fault of the airline.
Important! Even if there are forced reasons, a number of companies may refuse a full refund if the client did not contact the company before the start of registration.
Return procedure
It is possible to return a ticket with a full refund, but you need to know how to proceed correctly. The closer the departure date, the higher the refund fee. This must be taken into account and try to start the procedure as early as possible. The return policy includes the following instructions:
- Decide what is the reason for your decision. If you are returning a ticket for forced reasons as described above, you are required to refund the full cost of the ticket. Voluntary return most often implies partial compensation of funds.
- Check out the return policy for your fare. Perhaps a refund is not beneficial in your situation, and it is much cheaper to just buy a new ticket.
- Start the return process. Inform the representatives of the company about your intention to receive the money back. If the reason for the return is illness or the death of one of the relatives, it is necessary to present documents that confirm this.
- If the answer does not satisfy you, make sure that the decision of the company's employees does not comply with the laws of the Russian Federation and the rules of your tariff. If negotiations with airline employees did not bring the desired result, you have the right to apply to higher authorities.
- Wait for the funds to be returned to your account. Usually the return procedure lasts 1-4 months.
If you are flying with transfers and want to return only one of the purchased tickets, it is imperative to notify the airline staff. Even if you are late for one of the flights or for some reason you are going to miss it, but plan to arrive for the rest of the flights, let us know, because if you do not show up for check-in without warning, subsequent tickets will automatically expire.
The procedure for returning a ticket is always the same, and the sooner you start this procedure, the more likely you are to receive the maximum possible refund amount in a timely manner.
What does the return option look like on the Internet?
Fare Rules
When is the best time to return a ticket, how to get a refund, how to choose a different departure date and so on, you can find out by reading the fare rules. You can read them:
- if the air ticket is already in your hands - in the itinerary-receipt that will be sent to your email address, or on the airline's website;
- if you are going to purchase an air ticket - on the company's website in the "Fare Application Rules" tab.
The intermediary agency may charge an additional fee from the client for their services.
In addition, how to return a ticket, you need to know a few more nuances that will help travelers not get into a disadvantage:
- Non-refundable air tickets are not sold in Russia. All fares are refundable and the amount depends on the type of transportation and seasonality. Therefore, if you bought a ticket to one of the cities in Russia and they tell you that it is non-refundable, you can write a letter to the airline management, referring to the law. Non-refundable tickets are sold only when crossing the border.
- As practice shows, when buying a ticket to another country via the Internet, it is almost impossible to return it.
- If a passenger cannot return tickets, he can entrust it to any other person by drawing up a notarized power of attorney.
- Airlines cannot independently change the laws of return and exchange. They can only simplify the laws of the Russian Federation, but not make them more stringent.
- When returning, the passenger must pay a number of fees. Sometimes this amount is so large that it is simply unprofitable to return the ticket.
- If the ticket was returned no later than one day before departure, there is a chance to get its full price. If the return is made later than 3 hours before departure, an additional penalty of 10% is paid.
- Later than 40 minutes before the flight, it is not possible to return the ticket.
- Refunds must be made through the same company or agency through which the ticket was purchased.
- If a person missed the plane, a refund is possible provided that a return ticket has been purchased. Be sure to state the reason for the delay. For example, if it consists of a lengthy screening by an airline employee or a delay on a connecting aircraft, the customer is often paid the full price of the ticket. Also, airline representatives can guarantee a free ticket for the next flight instead of a refund.
The refund is a fairly simple procedure if the passenger knows his rights. For convenience, we have collected all the stages of the return in one table.
Stage number | Online return | Cashback |
1 | Filling out an application on the airline's website or sending a letter to an email address with documents confirming the reason for the return. | Familiarization with the return policy. |
2 | Waiting for a response from the airline staff. | Collection of documents confirming the reason for the return. |
3 | Receiving refunds on the same card with which the ticket was paid. | Appeal to the cashier with the presentation of all necessary documents. |
4 | Waiting for the airline's response. | |
5 | Receiving refunds to the card specified during the application process within a few months. |
As a rule, airlines comply with their own rules and laws of the country, so if you follow this instruction, you can achieve a positive result quite quickly.
You can return a plane ticket, or you can exchange it, but not always; you can get the full price of the ticket, partially return the labor money or get nothing at all. How to get the maximum money when returning a ticket? To do this, you should carefully study your rights and obligations as an air carrier.
The ticket is returned if necessary - this is a forced return of the ticket, at their own request - this is a voluntary return.
In the event of a forced refund due to the fault of the airline, or in the event of a sudden death of a passenger, there is always a full 100% refund of the amount paid for the ticket. The fault of the airline - the flight does not depart on time or it is delayed for more than three hours.
In the event of a forced refund of the ticket through no fault of the passenger, the amount is returned on an individual basis, starting from 100% and reduced depending on the decision of the airline.
The refund period is quite wide - from an instant refund to three months, as the card will fall in each case.
If, a / c cancels a flight or changes the schedule (departure delay for more than 3 hours), the ticket can be changed to a new one, provided that this suits the ticket holder. Replacement costs are paid by a / c. If the passenger is not satisfied with the alternative offered by the airline, he receives a full refund of the money paid - instantly or within a maximum of 4 hours. If, after the replacement of the ticket, the passenger refuses the ticket, then the amount of the refund is calculated as a voluntary refund at the relevant fare and the terms for the refund are extended to three months.
In case of sudden death of a passenger, the refund period can be from 4 hours to 7 working days.
The reasons for the forced return of a ticket can be different - natural disasters, visa denial (for a passenger, or members of his family traveling with him), redundancy, accident, emergency, illness, unscheduled hospitalization, death of loved ones, accident, conscription, judicial proceedings, damage to property through no fault of the passenger. In all these cases, the return of tickets will be with minimal losses, since this is a forced return, not through the fault of the passenger.
The written application must be accompanied by reliable documents confirming one of the above reasons. The airline has the full right to independently verify the authenticity of the submitted documents, as well as independently decide on the validity of the reason for the return and the amount of the refund for the ticket on an individual basis and spend up to three months on this.
A refund to a bank card can be made within 30 days, a refund can be checked by account status without waiting for SMS. Citizens of Russia paying for a ticket in cash can receive an amount for a ticket refund to a Visa, Euro / MasterCard, JCB card, wallet, personal account - in this case, the money will be returned at least three days later.
Voluntary ticket refund.
At least 4 hours before the start of check-in for the flight, an economy class passenger must apply for a ticket refund. Before applying for a refund, you need to carefully study the fare of your ticket (a one-way and return ticket may have different fares), and sometimes it may be non-refundable at all. There is a rule - the more money paid for the ticket, the less the loss when returning the ticket.
For a ticket purchased at full fare in economy class, you must pay a refund fee, which depends on the particular airline; tickets purchased in business or imperial class, as a rule, are not penalized upon return, sometimes even if returned after departure.
Aeroflot in economy class with M, U, K, H, L fares does not allow ticket refund after departure.
Returning a ticket from Turkish Airlines, Ryanair is not allowed, you can only change the date of departure or take a voucher for the next flight.
You can return a ticket from Thai Airways, if you return it more than 24 hours before departure, no penalties apply.
It is allowed to return the ticket from Utair, the money is returned by bank transfer to the details specified by the ticket holder within a maximum of 20 days. To return a ticket at the UTair ticket office, you need to physically write an application, present an itinerary receipt and an identity card. A fee of 200 rubles will be charged for the return of a ticket on the website.
You can return or return even a lost ticket, for this it is enough to take the evidence (certificate) of the violent loss of property from the police.
In all airlines, it is impossible to return the unnecessary part of a one-way ticket (round trip or back).
-If a passenger, at his own request, does not fly on a ticket - there, then the ticket back is automatically destroyed.
-If a passenger flies only there, then back, he has the right to just change and postpone the date of departure, paying a fine for this.
You can return (cancel) a ticket for a child according to the return rules for adults.
If it is difficult to understand the complexity of the squiggles of the law, the traveler has the right to turn to lawyers (services are paid, free). If the rights of the ticket holder are violated, there is every reason to file a civil lawsuit against the airline for moral and material compensation for losses.
For travel, modern people most often choose aircraft. Often a situation arises - a ticket is bought, and a person’s plans change dramatically, and he wants to return the money for it. Legislation allows you to return a plane ticket under certain conditions.
Features of the return of air tickets
It is possible to return a ticket for a flight that is booked online or purchased in another way, but the positive outcome depends on the airline. In one, they will agree to return part of the funds, in the other, justice will have to be sought through the courts. There are a few simple rules, following which you can return the money for the ticket. Time plays a key role.
Important! When a passenger decides to book a ticket on the day of departure or a few hours before, he is unlikely to return the funds spent.
It all depends on the airline. For example, a person purchased an Aeroflot ticket. He automatically agrees to its terms. The return procedure is determined by the internal regulations of the air carrier. The passenger must learn the rule: in order to return the ticket, you must contact the company as soon as possible. Your chances of getting your money back will increase if you tell them you're not going to fly 2 days before your departure date. Some passengers try to cancel their ticket before check-in. The air carrier is not interested in losing money, and the process will become more complicated. If you are late and check-in ends or the plane has already departed, the ticket is non-refundable.
What amount will be returned
Each airline company approves its own tariffs, promotions and other conditions. Before booking a flight with an air carrier, people should read the terms and conditions. But not everyone pays due attention to this, and passengers initially do not know that there are non-refundable tickets.
Important! A small part of the purchase costs can be reimbursed.
Some nuances:
- They do not return the commission (service fee) when paying for the ticket.
- To return an air ticket, in many companies you will have to pay fines (the amount is not specified in the charter).
To find out how to return a ticket and get the full amount back for it, you should study the grounds for a refund.
When are tickets returned?
A passenger can refuse to travel by plane voluntarily (plans have changed) and involuntarily (arrived at the airport late and late for check-in). In the first case, the person returns the ticket for no good reason, according to the airlines.
The air carrier is obliged to consider the application and return the money as soon as possible if it is a forced direct flight. The law guarantees the return of a ticket to a citizen if he is denied a visa. This fact must be confirmed by attaching documents.
Other reimbursement cases:
- The passenger was hospitalized on an emergency basis and he has medical certificates in his hands.
- Death of a close relative or spouse. For payment of funds, papers confirming kinship and a death certificate are provided.
- The fault of the airline (flight delayed or cancelled).
Each case is considered individually. The person must notify the air carrier within 2 days prior to departure according to the rules. Some companies promptly consider applications - on the day of application. In others, the process sometimes drags on for a week or a month.
When will compensation be paid?
To get the money back, you need to provide strong evidence in a short time. The carrier will meet halfway and compensate for financial losses. Sometimes it is problematic to return an air ticket when booking a direct flight. The right to compensation must be officially recognized. Waiting for the transfer of money to a bank card can take a long time - a week. Sometimes payments come earlier - within a few business days.
How to rent e-tickets
Services (aggregators) that search for cheap tickets and help you book them without leaving your home are in great demand. Tickets purchased online are refunded in the same way as regular tickets. The passenger can print the document, notify the carrier of his intention to return, present evidence and wait for the funds to be credited to the account.
Important! You need to carefully consider the electronic document. If it is marked non ref, it is non-returnable.
What to do with non-refundable tickets
Flights marked non ref are cheap and profitable to buy. A citizen will travel by plane, paying a smaller amount. People make such purchases when they know for sure that the flight will not be cancelled. But life is unpredictable, and passengers have to change their plans.
The law establishes cases when citizens can receive compensation by purchasing non-ref. The carrier will suffer a loss, but will follow the prescriptions of the law, otherwise the state will take away the license and deprive the right to carry out activities.
The passenger will be compensated if unforeseen circumstances arise:
- A close relative has died.
- Urgent hospitalization.
- Violation of obligations by the air carrier (delayed flight).
People plan travel by plane in advance, but no one is immune from force majeure. It is advisable to study all the tariffs on the airline's website and familiarize yourself with the rules in order to know what to do in a critical situation.
How to exchange a ticket for another date
If you change the date of departure, it is problematic to replace the travel document. Not every ticket can be exchanged. Large companies (Aeroflot) charge fines and additional commissions. You need to find out what type of travel document. If it says "changes are not permitted", it is irrevocable. The replacement process will be difficult. The inscription "Charg eeur 30.00" means the amount of the fine to be paid. Costs will increase, since the passenger will be able to change his plane ticket for another date if no one has managed to book a seat for a specific date and the cost is similar to the document that was purchased earlier.
The tariff includes not only the price of the carrier's services. There may be several tariffs in the economy class. If you buy at a favorable rate, you will not be able to change your travel document to a similar one without additional financial losses. The citizen will have to pay the missing amount.
Important! Reissuing makes sense if the cost exceeds the tariff. In other cases, it is advisable to cancel the old one and buy a new ticket.
If a passenger is forced to change the date of departure, there are several possibilities:
- Through the Internet on the website of the airline. Aeroflot is the leader among air carriers in the Russian Federation. It has its own portal, where the traveler can easily adjust the departure date. To complete the action, click the "Buy" button. A page will open with a hyperlink before booking "Exchange/Refund". They click on it and the system will redirect to a page where they indicate the reservation code, the name of the citizen for whom the travel document was purchased. The departure date can be changed when the system has finished searching for the reservation.
- Through the site of an intermediary. Intermediaries are large sites where information from air carriers is concentrated. The passenger will be able to choose the appropriate option from several companies. When purchasing a document on such a portal, it can be exchanged in several ways: send an application by email, use the exchange function in your personal account, make a phone call. The phone number and email address is located in the "Help" section.
- Call the call center of the carrier.
It is easy to make an exchange at the airport ticket office. Bring your passport and air ticket with you. They also change the electronic travel document at the ticket office. You can print it out and present it to the cashier, but this is not necessary. Since the ticket has been paid, its data is in the air carrier's database.
Can I re-register for another passenger?
In most airlines, you cannot change a purchased plane ticket for another person. The purchase of a ticket confirms the conclusion of an agreement between the passenger and the carrier. The problem is solved by returning the document.
To return the ticket and return the amount of money, contact the representative of the company or the cashier. A citizen presents a passport. It will take 2-3 minutes to cancel a booking. Funds will be paid within 2-3 weeks. And the person to whom you wanted to reissue the coupon will be able to purchase it.
Important! Manipulations with air tickets are carried out no later than 4 hours before the departure of the aircraft, if a citizen calls the call center. Or no later than 40 minutes before the departure of the flight, if the actions are performed through the ticket office at the airport.
Why can't I exchange my ticket for another person?
Air carriers have established a ban on changing the name of a person who bought a ticket. When a traveler draws up a document, it includes information about the flight and about the person: personal and passport data. An air ticket is a registered paper, and a specific citizen has the right to use it. Any other person may not use it. If the traveler purchased a ticket using his passport, but had to cancel the trip and he wants to transfer it, you need to return the ticket and buy it for another person.
People plan their trips by air in advance, but no one is safe from unforeseen situations: a person gets sick or misses a flight, plans have changed. The law allows you to return a purchased plane ticket and receive compensation when there is a good reason. If you need to replace your travel document for another date, contact the airline's website or an intermediary, a call center or an airport ticket office.
Purchasing an air ticket a few months before a vacation trip is a great opportunity to save money from the family budget. This is especially beneficial if you periodically go on business trips. However, do not forget that sometimes unforeseen events happen to every person. What should I do if plans change and the trip is cancelled?
As a rule, when a force majeure occurs in a person, he is not able to calmly think about the situation. And develop a plan of action too. Therefore, it is necessary to think over the situation in case the trip is canceled and you need to return the tickets for the plane in advance.
Methods for implementing the procedure for returning purchased tickets for a flight
Situations when you need to return an air ticket can arise for several main reasons:
- The air carrier, for a number of reasons, cannot fulfill its obligations for the carriage of a passenger. In this case, a forced return occurs;
- The passenger's plans have changed, and the return is due to the passenger's fault. Such a return is called voluntary.
If the airline is directly responsible for the failure of the deal, then everything is easier. Forced return occurs without any overlays. The companies return the money and pay the compensations due to the clients in this case.
What is a forced return?
As a rule, the reasons for a forced return are:
- For technical reasons, the company cancels or reschedules the flight. There may be a long delay that the client is not satisfied with;
- There were overlays with flight connections if the passenger chooses flights with connections;
- At the destination, the landing route of the aircraft has changed;
- The passenger was subjected to a lengthy screening and missed the flight. At the same time, he did not find any items prohibited for transportation;
- The client was denied a visa;
- Due to the fault of the employee, errors were found in the travel document, which led to the fact that the ticket was 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 happened to one of his family members.
If the situations described above have occurred, then the passenger has every reason to demand the full amount that he spent on the ticket. However, in order to be able to claim a full refund, he must provide a package of documents that can prove that there is an involuntary refund.
If the return is recognized as forced, then the airline employees will return the entire amount and pay compensation.
In the event that a refund is required due to a cancellation or a long delay in the departure of a flight, a number of conditions must be met:
- Contact the check-in service, or directly to the representative of the airline in which the ticket was purchased. Do this before you check in for your flight. The support service must confirm the reason, and put an appropriate mark on the ticket and the seal of the carrier;
- Get your flight coupon. This must be done if the information that the flight is delayed or canceled appeared after the check-in procedure for the aircraft was completed. This condition must be met, because otherwise your ticket will be considered already used if it does not have a coupon.
Having fulfilled all the necessary conditions, you have every right to demand payment of monetary compensation in full.
What is a 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 agree to help the client in the event of a voluntary return.
At the same time, the rules for the return of air tickets are spelled out in Art. 108 of the Air Code of the Russian Federation. This document reflects the right of the passenger to refuse the services of the carrier at any time, provided that the company has received a notification from the client about the refusal of services.
It is worth paying attention to the circumstance! The passenger has the right to exercise the right to receive monetary compensation by law. However, the amount of the cash payment will depend on how long before departure the company received a notice of the client's refusal of services.
In the event that you already know for sure that the flight will not take place, then you need to be notified about this immediately, as such a circumstance arose.
Note! In the event that the company receives a notification from the passenger that he refuses its services a day before the departure of the flight, then 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 a day, then the company may be subject to penalties for the fact that the passenger caused her financial losses. At the same time, the company cannot find more than 25% of the ticket price!
Which flights are non-refundable?
Often, passengers, seeking to save on flights, purchase tickets for charter flights. Of course, these tickets are attractively priced.
However, there is a rule that has been in force since 2014 and 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 this flight. These tickets are priced in economy class. The discount on them is from 15-20%.
How can I return a ticket purchased online?
In the event that the purchase of a ticket occurs through the official portal of the carrier, then the refund will take place in the same way. Let's look at the situation with a specific example.
So, you have purchased an electronic ticket from Ural Airlines. However, circumstances arose that made a future trip impossible. What should be done?
Returns are made exclusively through the 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 "Check Order" 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 clicked on the "Return" button, undoing the action will be impossible!
Cancellation of a seat on a flight by phone
In order to return your own money, 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 a statement in free style. After that, you need to use your personal e-mail and send an application to the e-mail of the carrier.
If all the steps were done correctly, then after the company confirms the refund, you will receive an email response confirming the operation and indicating the amount of the refund. As a rule, within a day, 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 ticket for a plane 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 ticket and make sure that the procedure can be completed!
If the ticket status is marked "Limited" or in English it says "nonrefundable", then such a ticket belongs to the category of non-refundable. In addition, agency fees are non-refundable.
Features of issuing economy class tickets back to the airline
Let's decide how the fare can affect the ability to make a refund for the ticket.
Most agencies link the return of air tickets to tariff plans. All tariffs that are valid for carriers are divided into several types:
- Tickets purchased at a business class fare can usually be returned without any difficulty. But avoiding a fine is unlikely to succeed;
- Premium class. Such travel documents are subject to a refund in the amount of 100% of their value even if the passenger did not show up for the flight. Such tickets have quite a decent value, which is already included in their price. Therefore, the probable losses of the company are already justified;
- Economy class tickets. If a passenger who has purchased a ticket at this fare refuses to fly, then the company's losses are quite decent. Therefore, most often, carriers are reluctant to refund money for such tickets.
Note! By purchasing a ticket at a low cost, you take a risk. It is difficult to return such a ticket in practice. It is even more difficult to get monetary compensation for it.
How are economy class tickets refunded?
Before purchasing a cheap ticket, you should first find out the features of the return of such a travel document.
Do not forget that in life there are different situations. It is necessary to clarify the possibility of returning the ticket before paying its cost.
Return conditions are usually indicated on the company's website. It is a must to read them!
After reading the return conditions, you will have an idea of whether it is possible to return the ticket, or if it is non-refundable. By purchasing tickets for a promotion or under the terms of a sale, you expose yourself to a certain risk - most often it is impossible to return them.
In the event that a ticket is not purchased for a promotion, then the standard conditions for its return will apply.
- You can get a full refund. This possibility is provided for when flying within Russia, if the carrier received a notification 24 hours in advance;
- If the carrier has received notice less than 24 hours in advance, it has the right to impose a penalty of 25% of the ticket price. A similar penalty will be imposed when flying on an international flight with less than a day's notice;
- The Company has the right to impose penalties in the amount of 10% in the event that the ticket is returned for an international flight, upon receipt of notice less than a day in advance.
Refunds occur in the same way as receiving money when paying for a ticket. It can be cash, transfer to a bank account or to a payment card or to an electronic wallet. In the same way as in the case of a forced return, a corresponding note is made on the ticket form.