Refund of air tickets within 24 hours. How much is lost when returning an air ticket? Electronic ticket and fare

Every person has encountered a situation where force majeure circumstances destroy carefully developed plans. Unforeseen events await a person at every step. What to do with purchased travel tickets? long trips or flights? How to return a plane ticket? For several months you have been preparing for your vacation, making plans, booking seats in the cabin. They have already started packing their suitcases. And suddenly, for some reason, the trip is cancelled.

What to do in this case with the purchased air ticket? Is it possible to submit it? Will you get your money back? A thrifty person is concerned about questions about refunds, since the amounts for flights are quite large. Let's look at the basic rules for buying back travel passes that apply to airlines.

The conditions that influenced the cancellation of a plane trip can be completely different. In this case, without taking into account force majeure circumstances, one of two parties is to blame: either the air carrier or its client. Airlines encounter similar problems quite often, so all solutions to situations leading to flight cancellations are spelled out in the ticket refund rules. Moreover, different enterprises have their own policies regarding relations with clients. Therefore, when traveling by plane for the first time, review the conditions for exchange and return of tickets from this carrier.

It is very important on whose initiative the contract between the passenger and the carrier is terminated. As a rule, the client has every right to return a plane ticket if the company has not fulfilled its obligations. Then the return is forced. Here is the main list of reasons due to which the passenger will be refunded the full cost of the flight:

flight cancellation;
a significant delay resulting in the customer missing a connecting flight;
flight with transfers instead of a direct route;
departure and landing are carried out at other airports;
lack of space in the air showroom, refusal of the carrier to take the passenger on board;
aircraft model replacement;
impossibility of providing services corresponding to the ticket class.

If at least one of the listed reasons occurs, the money for the ticket must be returned in full. But airlines are reluctant to issue refunds, often offering an alternative option. You must make a choice: agree with the carrier's offer or insist on a refund of the amount spent. In the latter case, be prepared to be persistent and spend some time. Do not forget to contact a company employee with a request to put a stamp and make a note on the ticket about the reasons for the refusal.

Sometimes situations arise when a passenger has the right to return a ticket and return the money spent. This is possible in the event of the death of a passenger or a close relative flying with him. These are people of direct kinship, that is, wife, husband or child. You must present the airport service employee with a death certificate and a document confirming your relationship with the deceased.

An illness of a tourist or an accompanying relative, confirmed by a medical report with the seal of the institution and the signature of a doctor, can also interfere. The document must carefully specify the diagnosis and the time of illness (the period of start and end of treatment). If your spouse or child falls ill, you must provide proof of relationship.

A valid reason is a delay during security screening at the airport. The money for the ticket will be returned if customs officers did not find any prohibited items in the luggage, but the verification process took too long. A thorough inspection of items is carried out under certain circumstances when an enhanced security regime is introduced. All passengers' suitcases are sorted, inspected for the presence of:

various types of weapons;
narcotic substances;
illegal values.

As a result of such actions by the airport security service, the passenger does not get on board on time. When deciding on the issue of handing over a ticket, you will definitely need a certificate from the security service.

Some tourists are denied visa applications when they already have a plane ticket. Most likely, you will be able to return the pass without any problems if you were planning a flight of international importance. Foreign companies, unlike Russian carriers, consider this reason to be serious, and the money is usually returned. To do this, you need to obtain the appropriate certificate from the embassy.

Returning a plane ticket with a full refund is quite difficult. This is due to the reluctant actions of airline representatives. After all, no one wants to lose profit. Therefore, you should insist on your position if you are confident that the client is right. Since the passenger is not at fault in all of the above cases, no fine is charged for the ticket return procedure.

The conditions for surrendering an air ticket in case of voluntary cancellation of the flight involve payment of a penalty in the amount of 900-1500 thousand rubles on domestic flights and from 40 to 300 euros on foreign routes. The cheaper the tariff, the stricter the return conditions. Budget economy class does not provide for a refund. True, some companies may offer an exchange. Try to find out the necessary information in advance. It is advisable to return your ticket no later than 36 hours before the plane departs.

In the very advantageous position There are passengers who should fly premium or business class. Penalties for returning a ticket are either completely absent or reduced to a minimum. These data are specified in the terms and conditions of purchasing the air ticket. For established clients, a long-term exchange service is offered. Then a coupon with open date valid all year round. We recommend that you read the rules in advance to prevent certain unpleasant situations.

How to change your departure date

Air tickets purchased at a special rate cannot be returned. The possibility of exchange for another flight depends on the behavior of the carrier. In some cases, it is more profitable to postpone the departure date than to return the ticket. Monetary losses will be less if you do this a few days before the departure date. The amount of penalties ranges from 20% to 30% of the ticket price. Already on the day of the flight it will not be possible to avoid a serious fine.

Customers who constantly buy cheap plane tickets are aware of the problem of returning and exchanging such travel passes. After all, when conducting a promotion or sale, the company warns that these offers do not include the possibility of any changes in the route on the part of the customer. Such flights include:

discounted travel passes;
tickets from budget companies;
air tickets with short-term discounts.

Therefore, monitor information about profitable flights very carefully. Every carrier has them. Users can find out the rules for returning or exchanging tickets issued via the Internet on the website of any airline. You may have to come to the office in person to provide the necessary documents and write an application.

The refund process takes time. The money is transferred to your account or bank card in 2-3 days and a maximum of 3 months. Plan your trips in advance and find out the refund policy before purchasing a ticket. This will help avoid unnecessary problems.

How to return an air ticket?

Today you won’t surprise anyone with online shopping, and you can buy everything: from real estate to food. This fact has not bypassed the purchase through websites and air tickets. But what if your flight is canceled due to unexpected circumstances? In this case, you will need to return the purchased ticket, but how to do this correctly?

If everything is clear with the ticket office - you went up and handed it in, presenting documents confirming your identity, then how to return an electronic plane ticket purchased via the Internet correctly, without visiting the ticket office.

Consultant. If the web resource where you purchased the ticket has an online consultant with whom you can talk via chat, then, first of all, you can ask him what you should do and how best to act to your advantage - that is, with minimal losses. Don’t be afraid to indicate during the survey process email address, contact number, if you are asked during the communication process.
Website phone number. You can seek advice from the telephone number listed on the website about what penalty you are entitled to for a return.
Air carrier. You can also contact the air carrier's office by calling the phone number for detailed advice in order to return air tickets purchased online. In this case, you must indicate the details of the passengers whose air tickets you will be refunding. You just need to clarify the air carrier’s commission and the amount of the fine that will be taken from the refund of air tickets. Each carrier has it individually, so you should pay attention to the commission.
Travel agency. If the flight must be carried out through a tour package, then the ticket is issued through the travel agency and the airline agency, but in this case the tour will be cancelled. It should be borne in mind that here the fine will be higher, and in some cases the ticket simply cannot be returned. The latter is often indicated in the conditions for purchasing an air ticket from the agency. But the money is not returned immediately, but after a certain time.

We return air tickets correctly

When purchasing an air ticket via the Internet or at ticket offices, carefully study all the terms and conditions of the agreement, and purchase tickets only on trusted web resources.

It is worth noting that a copy of the electronic version of the ticket is not sent anywhere, as this will not play a special role.

Forced return

There are times when it is urgent to return a ticket. This only happens when passengers encounter unforeseen life situations, plans change, difficulties arise with their well-being, etc.

This option involves returning the ticket, which is accompanied by the presentation of documents that will confirm a “significant change of plans”, for example, you were denied a visa, a paper from the hospital about the necessary hospitalization and other force majeure circumstances.

To involuntarily return air tickets, you must present your passport, card number and a document indicating the reason for the return.

To return e-tickets, you must present your passport and receipt of purchase, as well as provide all the necessary contact information

If you happen to be charged high commissions and fines, review the agreement when purchasing your air ticket.

If the commission charged is higher than indicated, it is better to file a claim in court or complain to the airline.

Cases of ticket return

For health

If it happens that you end up in the hospital shortly before your flight, and, as a result, the flight is cancelled, what should you do?

To do this, you need to provide a hospitalization certificate or any other document confirming the impossibility of the flight. This allows you to return the ticket with the least loss for you, since the return will be tantamount to a forced one.

If you have been refused a visa

The situation with a visa refusal is typical and often happens before departure. With minimal losses for you, you can also make a refund; for this you need to have a passport, card account and a document confirming the visa refusal. Moreover, if your visa is delayed, you should take a certificate of delay, with which you can either submit them.

If trouble happened to a close relative

You are allowed to make an urgent return of the ticket or change the departure date to another at the lowest cost. For this you need documents, as well as a death certificate.

If the reason is completely different and is not included in the list above, a refund of the ticket is also possible, as is booking a flight for other dates, but in this case the fines will be charged several times more. To return or rebook an air ticket, you need to take with you your passport, international passport, visa (if required) and account number for the company to transfer money.

When purchasing an air ticket via the Internet or at ticket offices, carefully study all the terms and conditions of the agreement.

The flight was canceled or postponed indefinitely

This option involves returning the ticket without fees. To return your ticket, you will need your passport and air ticket. If the ticket is electronic, you can provide a certificate or receipt of purchase.

Finally

When making purchases online or offline, remember that you should always read the contracts and all instructions that the company provides. If some nuances are not clear to you, it is better to ask again and clarify. You can also immediately ask a question about a possible sudden refund of your air ticket.

If the seller does not tell you what to do, or evades questions, you should look for web resources with a good reputation for selling air tickets or make a purchase from ticket offices or agencies.

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Conditions for returning air tickets purchased online

Before purchasing a plane ticket, carefully study the refund rules, as different situations happen in life. Conditions for handing over tickets are different for all companies. Airlines often impose commissions and fines for refusing to fly.

Air carriers, depending on the comfort of the flight, sell air tickets of various classes. Business class tickets are the most profitable; in most cases, the passenger receives compensation of 100% of the cost. But with seats on the plane purchased at a promotion, everything is much sadder. It is not profitable to return such air tickets.

Please note! If you find out that it is impossible to fly several weeks in advance, you should immediately inform the air carrier about this, since the sooner you return your ticket, the more profitable such a refund will cost you.

Passengers do not always refuse a flight on their own initiative. Often a ticket refund can be caused by factors beyond the control of the passenger:

delay or complete cancellation of a flight;
changing the route of an aircraft by an air carrier;
failure in flight schedules;
inability to connect flights in the manner previously announced;
failure to provide the passenger with the exact seat or class that was chosen when purchasing the ticket;
if a passenger is late to board the plane due to being detained during baggage inspection;
a company employee made a mistake when issuing a ticket;
the passenger or a relative flying with him or her is ill (submission of a certificate in this case is mandatory);
death of the passenger for whom the ticket was issued or his close relative (will also need to be confirmed with appropriate certificates).

For some air carriers, the fact of refusal to issue a visa is the basis for a forced refund of a ticket. All other cases will be automatically classified as voluntary surrender of the air ticket, in which the funds spent on the purchase will be returned only partially.

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Where and how can I return an electronic plane ticket?

Let's talk about the two main methods of delivery electronic air ticket: at the airport ticket office or on the website where it was purchased. However, a regular paper ticket can be returned in the same way.

To return you need to know:

Digital number of the purchased ticket;
The flight number you were planning to take;
Departure date and time;
Reservation number.

All this data is in the air carrier's email that you received after booking your ticket. When making a refund at the airport, it will be more convenient to print out this letter, take it with you and present it to the cashier. He will help you fill out the return application and show you what to enter where.

When returning an air ticket via the Internet, the algorithm of actions will be as follows:

Go to the airline's website;
Find the ticket refund section;
Fill out the application electronically, indicating the data we discussed above. Please attach a scan or photo of the passport of the person for whom the ticket was issued to your application.

Please note! When returning a ticket at the airport ticket office, the procedure will be similar, as well as canceling a flight through an intermediary (travel agency).

Fill out the application

Another option for returning a ticket is to send an application along with a scan (or photo) of your passport to the air carrier’s email.

In the application we must indicate:

Last name, first name and patronymic of the person who was supposed to fly;
Departure date and time;
Flight number;
Method of purchasing and paying for a ticket;
Details for a refund for the ticket price. This could be account details, bank card or electronic wallet.

Important! Please note that when purchasing tickets through a travel agency, all flight cancellation transactions are processed there, with the intermediary.

Refunds should be made only by the citizen whose passport details the air ticket was issued for. Otherwise, representatives of the air carrier have the right to demand from a third party a power of attorney for the right to return the purchased ticket.

After accepting the application, the passenger can only wait. Unfortunately, the refund procedure sometimes takes several weeks. To speed up the process, you can sometimes call the airport and check the status of the application.

ATTENTION! Look at the completed sample application for a refund for an air ticket:

Attention! Our qualified lawyers will assist you free of charge and around the clock on any issues.

Which air tickets cannot be returned?

Almost all issued plane tickets purchased online can be returned.

But there are exceptions to the rules, which include:

Air tickets marked “Non Ref”, which translated into Russian means “cannot be returned”. Be careful when purchasing. Such tickets sell out in an instant, as they have a very attractive flight price for the passenger;
Air tickets purchased through a system of promotions and discounts. Airlines often allow exchanges for a flight on a different day and time, but prohibit refunds.

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Although there are exceptions to this system. Non-refundable air tickets can be submitted when:

The passenger or his relative suddenly fell ill;
The passenger or his relative has died;
The airline is unable to fulfill the terms of the agreement between it and the passenger.

Attention! If it is not possible to provide the company representative with documents immediately, you can present them within 6 months from the date of delivery of the air ticket.

What needs to be done to return a non-refundable ticket:

Notify the air carrier about the impossibility of flying for valid reasons (listed above). The sooner you do this, the better;
Obtain a certificate or other document confirming that you have valid reasons for refusing to fly (sick leave, death certificate, etc.);
Write an application for a refund for the ticket and submit it, along with copies of documents, to the airline for consideration. If it is not possible to come to the carrier’s office, then the application can be sent by email or by Russian Post. In the second case, always pay for return receipt so that you can know for sure that the letter was received by the addressee.

Watch the video. Air ticket refund rules:

When is the best time to return your travel document?

The sooner you can return your ticket back to the carrier, the better.

If you return a ticket more than 24 hours in advance, you can count on compensation of 100% of the cost minus a commission. But some companies impose fines and fees on the ticket cancellation procedure.

If you return your ticket less than 24 hours before departure, you will receive 75% of its cost back. If you cancel your flight more than 4 hours in advance, but less than 24 hours in advance, you have a chance to get a refund of 75% of the cost. But if deadlines are running out, then there is a high probability of running into fines.

Note! If you are late for the plane due to your own fault or the fault of the security service, you can also return your ticket. The fine will be large, but you can still get some of the money back. Sometimes it is more profitable to reschedule a flight to another day than to pay a penalty to the airline.

When will the money for the air ticket be refunded?

The timing of refunds directly depends on many factors:

Place of ticket purchase (at the box office, online or through a tour operator);
Payment method (cash, card, e-wallet);
Application deadlines.

The following refund options are available:

to a current account;
to a card of a certain bank;
to an online wallet;
in cash.

If you want to return money to your current account, then you need:

Full name of the person in whose name the current account is registered;
Your Taxpayer Identification Number;
The account number;
Full name of the bank;
Bank BIC;
Correspondent account.

To transfer money to an electronic wallet:

Full name of the money sender (or company name);
Name of the payment system (LiqPay, Yandex money, Webmoney and others);
The number of the online wallet itself.

To return to a bank card, you will need the card details and the owner's full name. Details can be obtained from the banking organization itself or printed at a service terminal (ATM).

Remember! Immediately after acceptance of the application by the air carrier, all seats indicated on the returned ticket are cancelled. They become available for sale again. The procedure does not have retroactive effect; it will be impossible to cancel the refusal.

How to return a plane ticket and not lose money

To summarize the issue of returning a plane ticket purchased online, we can say the following:

The procedure for returning an electronic air ticket is no different from returning a regular one. On the contrary, passengers save their time. They do not need to go to the carrier; they can quickly complete everything online and wait for payment to the specified account;
If you voluntarily refuse to fly, the main thing is to have time to return your ticket one day before departure. It is then that the passenger has a chance to return 100% of its cost;
It is more profitable to rent business class tickets. But with promotions and discounts it’s the opposite. There is a risk of running into a penalty or not receiving a refund at all;
In case of force majeure (death, illness), you can even return tickets marked “non-refundable”. But you will have to provide documents confirming the presence of valid reasons;
Flight cancellation or delay also applies to force majeure, due to which the passenger can return 100% of the ticket price without penalties or commissions.

Modern people most often choose aircraft for travel. A situation often arises - a ticket is purchased, but a person’s plans change radically, and he wants to return the money for it. The law allows you to return a plane ticket under certain conditions.

Features of air ticket refunds

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 several simple rules by following which you can get your money back for your air ticket. The main role is played by such a factor as time.

Important! When a passenger decides to book a ticket on the day of departure or a few hours before, he is unlikely to get a refund.

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 a ticket, you must contact the company as early as possible. Your chances of getting your money back will increase if you tell them you won't be leaving 2 days before your departure date. Some passengers try to return their ticket before check-in. The airline 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.

How much will be refunded?

Each aviation company approves its own tariffs, promotions and other conditions. Before booking a flight with any air carrier, people should read the terms and conditions. But not everyone pays due attention to this, and passengers initially do not know that non-refundable tickets exist.

Important! A small portion of the purchase costs can be reimbursed.

Some nuances:

The commission (service fee) is not refunded when paying for a ticket.
To return an airline ticket, many companies will have to pay fines (the amount is not specified in the charter).

To find out how to return an air ticket and get the full amount back, you should study the reasons for the return.

In what cases are tickets returned?

A passenger can refuse to travel by plane voluntarily (plans have changed) or involuntarily (arrived at the airport late and was late for check-in). In the first case, a person returns a ticket without a valid reason, according to the airlines.

The air carrier is obliged to consider the application and return the money as soon as possible if we are talking about forced direct flight. The law guarantees a citizen the return of a ticket if he is denied a visa. This fact must be confirmed by attaching documents.

Other cases of cost compensation:

The passenger was hospitalized on an emergency basis and has medical certificates.
Death of a close relative or spouse. To pay out funds, provide documents confirming relationship and death certificate.
The airline's fault (the flight was delayed or cancelled).

Each case is considered individually. The person must notify the air carrier within 2 days before departure according to the rules. Some companies process applications promptly – on the day of application. In others, the process sometimes drags on for a week or a month.

When will compensation be paid?

To obtain cash back, you need to provide strong evidence in short time. The carrier will accommodate you 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 formally recognized. Waiting for money to be transferred to a bank card can take a long time - a week. Sometimes payments arrive earlier – within a few business days.

How to return e-tickets

Services (aggregators) that search for cheap tickets and help book them without leaving home are in great demand. Tickets purchased online are refunded in the same way as regular ones. 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 review the electronic document. If it is marked non ref, it is non-returnable.

What to do with non-refundable tickets

Air tickets marked non ref are cheap and profitable to buy. The citizen will travel by plane by 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 air tickets. The carrier will suffer a loss, but will follow the requirements of the law, otherwise the state will take away the license and deprive it of the right to operate.

The passenger will be paid compensation if unforeseen circumstances arise:

A close relative has died.
Urgent hospitalization.
Violation of obligations by the air carrier (flight delay).

People plan their plane trips in advance, but no one is immune from force majeure circumstances. It is advisable to study all the fares on the airline’s website and familiarize yourself with the rules so that you know what to do in a critical situation.

How to exchange an air ticket for another date

If you change your departure date, replacing your travel document is problematic. Not every air 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 non-refundable. 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 managed to book a seat for a specific date and the cost is the same as the document that was purchased earlier.

The tariff includes not only the price of the carrier's services. There may be several fares in 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! Re-registration 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 departure date, there are several options:

Via the Internet on the airline's website. 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/Return”. Click on it and the system will redirect to a page where they indicate the reservation code and the last name of the citizen for whom the travel document was purchased. The departure date can be changed when the system completes searching for the reservation.
Through the intermediary's website. Intermediaries are large websites 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 a request by email, use the exchange function in personal account, make a phone call. The phone number and email address are located in the “Help” section.
Call the carrier's call center.

It is easy to make an exchange at the airport ticket office. Bring your passport and air ticket with you. They also change your 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 for, its data is in the air carrier’s database.

Is it possible to re-register for another passenger?

Most airlines do not allow you to exchange a purchased plane ticket for another person. The purchase of a coupon confirms the conclusion of an agreement between the passenger and the carrier. The problem is resolved by returning the document.

To return an air ticket and return the amount of money, contact a company representative or the ticket office. The citizen presents his passport. It will take 2 – 3 minutes to cancel your reservation. Funds will be paid within 2 – 3 weeks. And the person for 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 plane’s departure, if a citizen calls the call center. Or no later than 40 minutes before departure of the flight, if the actions are carried out through the ticket office at the airport.

Why can't you exchange a ticket for another person?

Air carriers have established a ban on changing the surname of a person who has purchased a travel pass. When a traveler draws up a document, it includes information about the flight and the person: personal and passport data. An airline ticket is a personal piece of paper, and a specific citizen has the right to use it. No other person has the right to use it. If a traveler purchased a ticket using his passport, but had to cancel the trip and wants to transfer it, he needs to return the ticket and buy it for another person.

People plan their trips in advance aircraft, but no one is immune from unforeseen situations: a person gets sick or misses a flight, plans change. 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, call center or airport ticket office.