The refund method depends on the type of ticket. How long does it take to return a plane ticket? For which air ticket the money will be returned to you, and for which not - read our article.
Kind of air tickets
- Air tickets purchased through the ticket office at the airport.
- Air tickets purchased over the Internet.
In this article, we will consider a way to return the second type of air tickets.
Reasons to return
- The passenger is late for the flight for no reason.
- A passenger is late for a flight due to an accident.
- Exchange of tickets for another date.
- Cancellation of the trip altogether.
- Flight cancellation or transfer to another time.
Which air tickets cannot be refunded?
Most air tickets purchased through the website 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 “non-refundable”. Tickets with this mark are considered the most affordable, fly out in a matter of hours and cannot be returned or exchanged.
- Tickets purchased under a promotion, discount system or sale (exchange for a ticket of another date is allowed).
How to return a ticket purchased via the Internet?
Depends:
- From how much time is left before the start of the flight. 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 the return of an unused ticket.
- From the cost of the ticket. According to statistics, business class tickets are returned more easily and with less “losses” than economy class tickets.
How long does it take to make a refund?
- If you return the ticket 24 hours (or more) in advance, you will be refunded the full cost of the ticket. The passenger is charged a commission fee. Some airlines add payment of penalties to the refund procedure.
- If the ticket is returned in less than a day, the passenger will be offered a refund of seventy-five percent of the price paid for the ticket + a commission fee and, depending on the company, penalties.
- If the ticket is returned 4 hours before boarding, the passenger is refunded seventy-five percent of the ticket price + commission fee + penalties.
- If you try to return a ticket less than 4 hours before boarding or after the start of the flight, the return cost will decrease, and the amount of penalties may be increased several times.
Warning
Keep in mind! Sometimes it is easier to pay penalties and reissue the ticket for another calendar day, rather than return the ticket and purchase a new one yourself.
Where and how can a return be made?
Flight number. You can return an electronic ticket both at the airport ticket office, as well as a regular one purchased in another way, or on the website on which you issued an electronic ticket. To return you need the following data:
- Purchased ticket number.
- Reservation number.
- Departure time.
- Departure calendar day.
Access to the above data is available to you in an e-mail at the mail that you indicated when booking. If you return the ticket through the airport ticket office, then in order not to search for all the data yourself, you can print the letter received from the airline and simply show it at the ticket office. There they will help you figure out what and where to enter in the application.
If you are making a return through the website, then the procedure is as follows:
- On the website where you bought 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 ticket (listed in the previous section of the article) and attach a photo or scanned copy of your passport with the data entered in the ticket.
- If you return a purchased electronic ticket through the airport ticket office, the refund procedure is similar to the electronic one.
- If you want to issue a refund of an air ticket purchased from a travel company, the refund procedure will be similar to the previous two.
How long will the passenger receive the money?
The refund period for an unused ticket depends on when you applied for a refund, how you paid for it and the method of purchasing it (airport, travel agency, internet). On average, the return period is from ten days to three months.
The ticket price can be refunded:
- Cash at the checkout.
- To a bank card.
- To an electronic account.
How to expedite the refund process?
If you paid for the ticket using a bank card, then:
- In the application for a ticket refund, indicate the passenger's personal data (full name)
- Bank name and current account number.
- Bank identification code.
- Correspondent account.
Information
If you are applying for a refund by power of attorney, but in the application, indicate the personal data of the person for whom the ticket was purchased, as well as data on his bank card and account.
If you paid for the ticket through an electronic wallet, then in the application you must indicate:
- Full name of the passenger for whom the ticket was purchased.
- Electronic account number.
- The type of this account (webMoney, Yandex.Money, Qiwi, etc.)
Is it possible to exchange the returned ticket for another departure date?
It only depends on the airline from which the ticket was purchased. If the exchange is possible, then the passenger will have to pay penalties.
When exchanging a business class ticket, no sanctions are usually taken.
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 the return of a plane ticket under certain conditions.
Features of ticket refunds
It is possible to return a ticket for a flight 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 that you can follow to get your money back. The main factor is the time.
Important! When a passenger decides to book a ticket on the day of departure or a few hours before that, he is unlikely to return the money spent.
It all depends on the airline. For example, a person has 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. The chances of getting your money back will increase if you inform that you are not going to board the flight 2 days before the departure date. Some passengers try to return the 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 aviation company approves its tariffs, promotions and other conditions. People should familiarize themselves with the terms and conditions before booking a flight with a particular air carrier. But not everyone pays due attention to this, and passengers do not initially know that there are non-refundable tickets.
Important! A small part of the purchase costs can be reimbursed.
Some nuances:
- Commission (service fee) is not returned when paying for a ticket.
- Many companies will have to pay fines to return a ticket (the amount is not set in the charter).
To find out how to return a ticket and get back the full amount for it, you should study the grounds for refund.
When are tickets returned?
A passenger can refuse to travel by plane on a voluntary basis (plans have changed) and involuntarily (arrived at the airport with a delay and was late for check-in). In the first case, the person returns the ticket without a good 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 an involuntary direct flight. The law guarantees to the citizen the return of the ticket if he is refused a visa. This fact must be confirmed by attaching documents.
Other cases of cost recovery:
- The passenger is hospitalized on an emergency basis and has medical certificates in his hands.
- Death of a close relative or spouse. For the payment of funds, they provide papers confirming the relationship and a death certificate.
- Airline fault (flight delayed or canceled).
Each case is considered individually. The person must notify the air carrier within 2 days of departure according to the rules. Some companies promptly consider applications - on the day of application. In others, the process is sometimes delayed by a week or a month.
When will compensation be paid
To get your 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 the 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 working days.
How to return e-tickets
Services (aggregators) that search for cheap tickets and help to book them without leaving home are in great demand. Tickets purchased online are refunded in the same way as regular tickets. The passenger can print out the document, notify the carrier of his intention to return, provide evidence and wait for the receipt of funds to the account.
Important! You need to carefully consider the electronic document. If it has a non ref mark, it is non-refundable.
How to deal with non-refundable tickets
Flights marked non ref are cheap and profitable to buy. A citizen will travel by plane at a lower cost. People make such purchases when they know for sure that the departure will not be canceled. But life is unpredictable, and passengers have to change their plans.
The law establishes cases when citizens can receive compensation by purchasing non ref tickets. The carrier will incur a loss, but will follow the requirements of the law, otherwise the state will revoke the license and deprive it of the right to operate.
The passenger will be compensated if unforeseen circumstances arise:
- A close relative died.
- Urgent hospitalization.
- Violation of obligations by an air carrier (flight delay).
People plan their travel by plane in advance, but no one is immune from force majeure. It is advisable to study all tariffs on the airline's website and familiarize yourself with the rules in order to know how to act in a critical situation.
How to exchange a ticket for another number
If you change the departure date, it is problematic to replace the travel document. Not every ticket is exchangeable. Large companies (Aeroflot) are subject to fines and additional commissions. You need to find out what type of travel document. If it says "changes are not permitted", it is irreversible. The replacement process will be difficult. The inscription “Charg eeur 30.00” means the amount of the fine to be paid. The costs will increase, since the passenger will be able to change his plane ticket for another date, if no one had time 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 fares in economy class. If you buy at a favorable rate, you will not be able to change a travel document to a similar one without additional financial losses. The citizen will have to pay the missing amount.
Important! Renewal 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 the 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. He has his own portal, where the traveler can easily adjust the departure date. To perform an action, press the "Buy" button. A page will open with a hyperlink before booking "Exchange / Return". Click on it and the system will redirect you to the page where the reservation code is indicated, the surname of the citizen for whom the travel document was purchased. The departure date can be changed when the system finishes searching for a reservation.
- Through an intermediary site. The 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, you can exchange it in several ways: send an application by email, use the exchange function in your personal account, make a phone call. The phone number and e-mail box is located in the "Help" section.
- Call the carrier's call center.
It is easy to make an exchange at the airport ticket office. Have your passport and air ticket with you. They also change the electronic travel document at the ticket office. It can be printed and presented to the cashier, but this is not required. Since the ticket has been paid for, its data is in the air carrier's database.
Can I reissue to another passenger
In most airlines, you cannot change 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 solved by returning the document.
To return the ticket and return the amount of money, contact the company representative or the cashier. The citizen presents his passport. It will take 2 - 3 minutes to cancel your reservation. The 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 plane, 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 air ticket office at the airport.
Why you can't exchange a ticket for another person
Air carriers have imposed a ban on changing the name of the person who bought the 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. Another person is not entitled to use it. If a 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 for another person.
People plan in advance to travel by aircraft, but no one is insured against unforeseen situations: a person is sick or missed a flight, plans have changed. The law allows you to return a purchased plane ticket and receive compensation when there is a valid reason. If you need to replace the travel document for another date, contact the airline's website or an intermediary, the call center or the airport ticket office.
Sometimes circumstances turn against us, and all plans collapse. It is especially offensive when a planned vacation or trip is disrupted when all tickets have already been bought. But even in this case, you can get a refund for a ticket purchased in advance. Whether it's a train, bus or plane.
Of course, plane tickets are much more expensive and the requirements for their return are much stricter than for other types of transport. How, you will learn from this article.
Possible reasons for the return
If you buy a plane ticket via the Internet, please read the ticket refund policy in advance. Usually, when returning air tickets purchased over the Internet, part of the costs is withheld, the amount of such a fine is set by each airline itself. A fine is levied when a passenger gives up a ticket for no good reason.
For good reasons, when fines may not be charged, airlines consider:
- Cancellation of the flight;
- Illness or death of a passenger / close relative;
- Refusal to issue a visa;
- Long flight delay;
- Transferring the flight to another day;
- Flight route change;
- Failure to ensure flight connections (if a single ticket is purchased).
All these reasons for canceling the flight must be agreed with the airline in case of cancellation of the flight.
Return terms
The timing of the refund depends primarily on the method of payment for their cost. If the tickets were purchased at the airline's box office, then you can return the ticket and get money for its return in cash at the box office, or to the account - you will need to provide details. In general, the method of refund can be chosen by the airline customer.
If the tickets were purchased via the Internet, then there are several options for returning the money:
- In cash at the office of the seller's company;
- Electronic payment to the card;
- Transfer to a current account or electronic wallet.
Warning
Usually, money is transferred to an account within 3-10 days, but in some cases, banking transactions can take up to 30 days. To a large extent, the transfer speed will depend on your bank, not the airline.
Return documents
In order to receive money for a returned ticket, you must submit:
- Passenger ID;
- Air ticket;
- Return claim;
- Account details;
- Certificate confirming the right to return (if required).
The application must indicate the reasons for the return of the ticket, list the list of attached documents, and also indicate the requirements for the return of the ticket. Communication with the airline must be in writing, even if you receive a refusal, it must be in writing.
What can you expect?
It all depends on:
- At what rate was the ticket purchased?
- Is it in the category of returnable or non-returnable?
- Are the reasons for the return compelled enough?
- How long before departure was the refund application submitted?
Usually, if the ticket was purchased in first or business class, then most of the ticket price is paid for the refund. Currently, almost all economy class tickets have been included in the category of non-refundable tickets, it is almost impossible to get funds for these tickets, unless the reason is included in the list of exceptions for refund. You can read more about what a non-refundable ticket is in our article.
Warning
In order for you to be refunded the entire cost of the ticket or most of the reason for the return must be valid, it is best if they are documented.
Also, you need to notify the airline about the refund in advance, thanks to the timely notification, you can get great compensation. So, if you warn:
- One day before departure - the full cost of the ticket will be refunded, except for commissions and small fines;
- In less than a day - 75% of the cost will be refunded, minus fines and commissions;
- In less than 4 hours - part of the ticket price may be refunded, but the penalties will be increased.
If there is a death or illness of a passenger, the refund will be 100%. The same amount will be refunded if the flight did not take place or was delayed by more than 3 hours due to the fault of the airline.
Non-refundable tickets
Not so long ago, non-refundable tickets were introduced in Russia, previously they were used abroad for a long time. This type of tickets insures the airline against losses, when, for example, a passenger misses the flight and asks for a refund.
There are only a few exceptions for which the buyer of a non-refundable ticket is entitled to receive money for its return. In practice, such tickets are rarely refunded. It is possible to learn more about the return of this type of tickets.
Now air tickets can be purchased not only at the ticket office, but also at special points of sale or on the Internet. Returning a ticket there shouldn't be much of a hassle either.
On all ticket sites, there is a "Return" button. The ticket purchase agreement is also described, which indicates the possible reasons for the return.
Thus, if you cannot fly, then in order to return the ticket you need:
- Go to your personal account on the website;
- Press the "Return" button;
- I follow the instructions on the website to return the ticket;
- Provide details for a refund.
Information
The money will be returned to you on the card with which you paid for the ticket or to the specified account. In some cases, the process of refunding money through intermediaries can take up to three months.
If the return is refused
Sometimes it is not easy to get money back for a ticket, but if you are sure that you can count on compensation, you can try to prove it in court. When you go to court for a refund, we recommend using the services of a lawyer who will help you get compensation, as well as protect your interests before the airline and the court.
The procedure for refunding air tickets depends not only on the type of ticket, but also on the timing of its refund, on the reason for passing the ticket, etc. Let's deal with each condition separately.
Types of air tickets
Flights can be divided into:
- Tickets purchased through the airport ticket office.
- Electronic tickets purchased through specialized websites or air carrier websites.
Both the first and second types of tickets are divided into two more categories:
- Tickets that can be refunded.
- Non-refundable tickets that either cannot be returned at all, or those for the return of which you can only get a part of the paid ticket price.
Reasons for returning air tickets
If a passenger decides to return his ticket, then one of the reasons for this should be:
- The passenger was late due to his own fault (traffic jams, did not calculate the time, did not have time to "Check in" the flight).
- Missed flight due to the death of a passenger or some kind of accident.
- Missed flight due to serious illness.
- Wish to exchange a ticket for another date.
- Refund of a ticket for personal reasons due to its further uselessness.
- The flight is postponed for another time or canceled altogether, which makes it necessary for the passenger to return the ticket.
What determines the amount of monetary compensation for a ticket refund?
- From how much time is left before the start of the flight. The sooner the passenger decides to return his ticket, the more he will eventually be able to return.
- From the airline company in which the ticket was purchased. Each airline has its own terms and conditions for returning tickets.
- From how much the ticket costs. The more expensive the ticket, the less problems there will be in the process of returning it.
Conditions for refunding an air ticket purchased online
An air ticket purchased through the website can be returned there. For this:
- Go to the website where you purchased your ticket. Find the "Return" box. There will be presented an application form, in which you need to enter all the data of the purchased ticket.
- Open the email you received at the email address you provided when booking.
- The email will contain the following information: flight number, ticket number, booking number, time and day of departure.
- All of the above data must be entered in the application on the website where you bought the ticket.
If you return your ticket purchased via the Internet at the airport ticket office, then the return procedure also consists in presenting:
- Data of the purchased air ticket: flight numbers, air ticket and reservation, as well as the day and time of the start of the flight.
- Passport data indicated on the ticket.
- The bank card used to pay for the ticket.
Conditions for refunding an air ticket purchased at the box office through the box office
If you decide to return a ticket purchased at the box office through the ticket office, then the return procedure will be no different from returning an electronic ticket. The only difference is that instead of a printed ticket, you will give the airport ticket office a paper ticket.
Amount of monetary compensation
To understand how much you will receive if you decide to return a ticket, you need to study what the total cost of the ticket consists of. It adds up:
- from the repayment of fuel that the plane will spend on the flight from point "A" to point "B".
- paying taxes for the trip
- payment of fees (about 1,500 rubles of the full cost of the ticket), which are intended to compensate for cases of ticket refunds.
For the return of the ticket, the air carrier provides for the payment of a fine (about 25%) and a commission fee. So, the earlier the passenger decided to return his ticket, the more the amount returned for the ticket purchase will be:
- If the passenger returns the ticket a day or more before the start of the flight, the airline is ready to return the full cost of the ticket to the passenger. However, fees will be withheld. Certain airlines may also require a fine.
- If the passenger wants to return the ticket in less than 24 hours, the refund amount will be about ¾ of the original ticket price. Payment of fees will be withheld. Certain airlines may also require a fine.
- If the passenger returns the ticket four hours before the start of the flight, then he will be asked to issue a refund ¾ of the original cost of the paid ticket + payment of fees and a penalty (depending on the air carrier).
- If the passenger returns the ticket less than four hours before the start of the flight, the cost of the return depends on the type of airline. And the fine can be increased several times.
Warning
If the ticket you purchased was "business class", then the amount of the fine upon refund may be reduced or canceled altogether.
Term for receiving compensation
The refund period for a returned ticket also depends on how long before the flight it was returned, as well as on the cost of the ticket. On average, money is returned from 10 days to 3 months.
How to speed up the return time
In order not to wait for a refund within three months, at the airport ticket office you need to fill out an appropriate application, where you need to indicate the following list of data:
- Personal data of the passenger for whom the ticket was issued (surname, name, patronymic, passport data).
- Bank name and current account number.
- Bank identification code.
- Correspondent account.
If a ticket is returned by power of attorney, then:
- The power of attorney must be notarized in order to be legally binding.
- The trustee must present two passports at the box office: his own and the passenger's ticket whose ticket is returned.
- Information on the bank office and current account also belongs to the passenger whose ticket is issued for refund.
If you paid for the ticket through an electronic wallet, then in the application you must indicate:
- Surname, name, patronymic of the passenger for whom the ticket was purchased.
- His electronic account number.
- The type of this account (webMoney, Yandex.Money, Qiwi, etc.)
Non-refundable ticket refund policy
Before explaining the conditions for refunding a non-refundable ticket, you need to understand which tickets belong to this category. Thus, non-refundable tickets are:
- Electronic tickets, opposite which there is a mark “Non Ref”. “Non Ref” means “non-refundable”. These tickets are considered the cheapest available at the moment.
- A ticket purchased on low-cost websites that offer the most budgetary flight options.
- Tickets purchased for a promotion, discount or sale (however, exchange for another date is allowed).
- R, N, E, T, Q fares.
Information
It is possible to refund the full cost of an air ticket at such fares only as a result of the unexpected death of a passenger or a serious accident with a passenger.
In other cases, the amount of compensation for the surrendered air ticket must be half of the original ticket price. Those. the passenger can expect a refund of taxes and fees.
The main conditions for the return of a non-refundable ticket are:
- Timing. It is best to return your non-refundable ticket as early as possible. Best just the day before the flight. Thus, a passenger can avoid paying a 25% refund penalty.
- The main condition for returning a ticket at a non-refundable fare is to be in time before the start of the flight.
You can return a non-refundable ticket using the following methods:
- Through the website of the airline or travel agency where the ticket was purchased.
- By phone (both when buying through a travel agency and in an airline).
- At the airport ticket office.
Rules for refunding non-refundable tickets in case of delay
If you are late, the holder of a non-refundable ticket can:
- On the website on which the ticket was purchased, fill out the so-called "notification form", where you need to register your personal data, and also explain the reason for the delay.
- If a refusal follows, then a similar form should be sent to the mail of the legal address of the air carrier serving you.
- In case of double refusal, it is recommended to consult with a lawyer and resolve the issue in court.
Flights are returned every day by people whose plans have suddenly changed. The opportunity to refund money or part of the money paid for the ticket is provided for all passengers, if their tickets are not non-refundable (for exceptions, read the article)
Non-refundable tickets usually contain a special designation "Non Ref" and are purchased at a lower price compared to economy class tickets.
The reasons for the return can be forced and voluntary:
- Forced return is carried out due to illness of the passenger (you must provide a medical certificate) or due to delay or cancellation of the flight. With such a return, the client is not subject to fines.
- Voluntary return carried out at the request of the client without giving reasons.
Return procedure
Refunds of air tickets purchased via the Internet can be carried out online, through the ticket office or through the intermediary from whom the tickets were purchased.
Statement
You can return tickets online if the airline's website provides such an option. In this case, it is necessary to fill out an electronic application form, indicating the following information there:
- flight number,
- date and time of departure,
- ticket number,
- reservation number.
Additionally, you must attach a scan of the first page of your passport with a photo or just a passport-sized photo. It is also necessary to indicate on the website how the funds will be returned: to a bank account or an electronic wallet.
Through the cashier
An electronic plane ticket can also be returned through the Aeroflot ticket office. Upon delivery, you must personally write an application for a return according to the sample established by the company. If the ticket holder cannot visit Aeroflot in person, he can write a notarized power of attorney allowing a third party to represent his interests.
Through a travel agency
The intermediary between the airline and the passenger can be, for example, a travel company from which the ticket was purchased. To return the ticket, you can notify the travel agency that a timely departure is not possible, and agree on the procedure.
The relationship between the return time and the amount returned
Most airlines allow their customers to return tickets at virtually any time before departure and even if they miss the plane. However, in order to find out exactly whether the return of purchased tickets after their purchase is allowed and in what time frame, you can ask about this at the Aeroflot ticket office or the airline's website. There are cases when the carrier prohibits returning tickets the next day after their purchase, regardless of the departure date.
As a standard, when returning a ticket at least one day before departure, you can receive compensation in the amount of 100% of the ticket price. However, most often the amount of the fine is deducted from the amount.
Interestingly, the more expensive the purchased ticket, the lower penalties for its return are the airline tends to impose. So, when returning a ticket for a business class seat, in most cases, you can count on a refund of all spent funds without penalties.
If you return a ticket less than a day before departure, but not less than 4 hours, you can get 75% compensation of the ticket price, excluding possible fines. When an e ticket is returned less than 4 hours before departure or even after landing (if you miss your flight), you can expect to receive compensation in the amount of no more than 50% of the ticket price. Thus, the sooner after it became clear that a flight at a pre-agreed time would be inconvenient to return the ticket, the more profitable it would be both for the airline (since the ticket could be re-sold) and for the passenger.
But, as practice shows, the most financially beneficial for a passenger is not a refund, but exchange of a ticket for another.
Return times
The funds will be returned to the client within 10 to 90 days from the date the ticket is returned. The speed also largely depends on the method of return. Cash return times can be long, as the customer will have to personally return to Aeroflot to collect them. As a non-cash alternative, you can ask to send money to an electronic wallet (for this you need to know its number and type) or a bank account (you must indicate the account or card number, as well as the name, bank identification code and correspondent account).
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