Non-refundable plane tickets: how to return, exchange, sell

What does non-refundable airfare mean?

A non-refundable ticket is a great way to save your personal budget, but it is quite risky. If a passenger changes his mind about flying, the airline has the legal right to refuse to exchange or refund the ticket.

Non-refundable tickets include those sold at the cheapest price, which includes the fee for the flight itself, service, fuel and insurance fees, without additional extra charges.

Almost all Russian airlines offer their customers non-refundable tickets. Foreign carriers sell them at a discounted price or promotion.

Non-refundable tickets do not include meals on board, and there are baggage restrictions. These services are provided only for an additional fee.

The advantages of non-refundable tickets are significant savings (on average 25%).

Conditions for returning non-refundable tickets

Despite the established restrictions on the exchange and return of non-refundable tickets, in some cases the passenger still has the right to receive compensation for an unused ticket or to exchange it with a change in date.

A force majeure situation is the main reason that allows a passenger to return the funds spent on a ticket:

• death of the person in whose name the ticket was issued or his close relative;
• serious illness of the passenger or his relatives.

Passengers who cancel their planned trip due to the carrier’s fault may also be eligible for compensation:

• suddenly changing the time or date of departure;
• there have been changes in the route;
• the company replaced the plane.

How to get money back for an air ticket

For any changes in personal plans for an upcoming air flight, experts recommend following the following plan:

1. If you have this problem, you should contact the call center of the carrier company or the agency where the non-refundable ticket was purchased. This must be done as early as possible, at least a few hours before registration.
2. The passenger writes a statement requesting a refund for the air ticket with a detailed indication of the reason for canceling the flight. Company specialists will review this document and make a decision. If the reason is forced, the company will return the funds within a certain period. As evidence confirming the compelling reason, it is necessary to present a medical certificate about the impossibility of flying due to illness, a death certificate or another document certified by a notary.
3. If a passenger cancels a flight due to changes in the flight route or departure time, you must contact the company’s specialists with a ticket and an identity document. The employee is obliged to put a note on the flight document about the flight delay or other circumstances that disrupted the passenger’s plans. A ticket with a mark is submitted to the air carrier's call center with a written statement indicating the passenger's request for compensation for losses and a refund.

There are no specific restrictions on the refund period for unused tickets. Each company has a certain time limit: a month, 3 months, six months, etc.

Basic rules for returning a Russian Railways ticket

The return of a train ticket must follow certain rules:

• the cost is refunded without additional service fee;
• you need to pay a special fee when returning money to unused seats;
• if you need a refund for virtual tickets purchased online and tickets for children under 5 years of age whose seats were not considered occupied, no refund fee will be charged;
• money for services (bed, tea, etc.) is returned;
• refund of money for carriage registration, etc. only possible if the entire bulk order is cancelled.

The money will be returned to the payer to the same account from which the purchase was made. The period for a refund is from 3 to 30 days after submitting a return application. The total amount that will be refunded for a Russian Railways ticket depends on how much time is left before the train departs:

• more than 8 hours – money for a ticket and a reserved seat;
• less than 8 hours - money for a ticket and 50% of the price of a reserved seat;
• less than 2 hours – the price of the ticket is compensated, but not the reserved seat;
• Once the trip has been sent, the price is non-refundable.

You can return tickets at the station ticket office or in electronic form on the website.

How to exchange a non-refundable plane ticket

Non-refundable tickets cannot be exchanged to change the departure date, but even in this case there are some exceptions to the rules.

It is possible to change the departure date, but it is not always financially beneficial. For such a service you will have to pay a lot of money, and the lower the ticket price, the higher the penalties for exchange.

For example, for some Russian carriers the penalty for exchange is 2 times higher than the cost of the ticket itself. In such cases, it is easier to buy a new departure document or issue a full refund with compensation, which is also only possible if there is a forced reason for changing departure plans.

Simply put, returning or exchanging a non-refundable ticket is not an easy matter and, as practice shows, many passengers find it easier to accept the loss of money than to engage in lengthy disputes with company representatives and prove the reasons for canceling a planned air trip.

What are non-refundable tickets for Russian Railways trains?

Non-refundable tickets (NT) are special travel documents that cannot be returned to the ticket office after they have been purchased. Such coupons are quite profitable for railway companies, since if they are not used, the money will not have to be returned.

For more information about what NB is, watch the video.

By law, at the Russian Railways ticket office, every passenger must be warned that there is a new NB format and explain to him what this means.

Also, all passengers can choose a ticket (regular, at a standard fare, or non-refundable, at a discounted fare) at their discretion. Transportation of baggage, children and other conditions remain the same for passengers who have purchased regular tickets and for those with NB.

The Russian Railways cashier must explain that it will be impossible to return a certain coupon and get the money back. If the purchase of coupons is carried out via the Internet, on the Russian Railways website it will be stated in a prominent place that the coupon cannot be returned.

What are the benefits for passengers when purchasing NB?

The benefit for the passenger when purchasing an NB is its low price. A regular ticket will usually be 10-40% more expensive.

But we must not forget that if it is impossible to travel, you most likely will not be able to get your money back.

Comparison of prices for non-refundable and regular tickets

To compare the difference in prices for coupons, let’s analyze the data in the table:

Price examples are given with the condition of purchasing a ticket one month before the train departure. The cost of tickets for the same types of carriages does not match due to differences in discount rates for NB in ​​different companies.

The price depends on the company selling the tickets and the type of carriage. This type of ticket is not available on all trains and not in all cars; this information must be clarified at the railway ticket office.

It is planned to introduce tickets of this type on international trains in the near future.

How to sell a plane ticket

The most resourceful passengers solve the problem of getting their money back by reselling a non-refundable ticket.

1. First of all, you need to find a real buyer who is ready to outbid your ticket for its real cost. This scheme works well during the holiday season, when there is a big rush to buy tickets at airports.
2. Next, you need to change your data to the data of the new passenger. For this operation you will have to pay a fee according to the established tariff.
3. The ticket is reissued in the name of another person. The seller receives the money spent, but in an incomplete amount, which is due to additional costs for making changes to the passenger’s personal data.

You can sell a ticket several hours before departure, but no later than 40 minutes before check-in.

Ticket exchange

Voluntary changes to the air carriage agreement are not allowed, with the exception of the following changes:

1. Changing the client's first name (last name) no later than 4 (four) hours before the flight departure time according to the schedule specified in the ticket, is possible through Booking Management on the pobeda.aero website or through the airline's call center, and no less than 40 (forty ) minutes before the scheduled flight departure time - through the airport ticket office. For amendments to the client's air transportation contract related to a change in the name (surname), an additional fee will be charged in the manner and amount provided for by the terms of the applicable tariff.
2. The flight date, time and/or route can be changed for an additional fee no later than 48 (forty-eight) hours before the scheduled flight departure time through the airline's call center or on the website. If the size of the new fare exceeds the size of the fare at which the ticket was originally purchased, the difference is paid by the client in full.
3. The client can order an additional service no later than 4 (four) hours before the scheduled flight departure time indicated on the ticket through Booking Management on the pobeda.aero website or through the airline’s call center, and no less than 40 (forty) minutes before the scheduled flight departure time - through the airport ticket office. For amendments to the air carriage contract related to the client ordering an additional service, an additional fee will be charged in the manner and amount provided for by the terms of the applicable tariff.
4. The fee for changing the departure date and/or route is 5,000 rubles per client per segment.
5. The fee for changing the name of one client in a reservation is 5,000 rubles.

Law on non-refundable plane tickets

According to Art. 108 of the Air Code of the Russian Federation, the airline has every right to refuse to pay a passenger funds for an unused non-refundable ticket, unless the reason for the refusal is forced circumstances.

According to the law of the Air Code of the Russian Federation, the airline undertakes to return money for a non-refundable ticket in the event of cancellation of flight for forced reasons, proven by documents.

Close relatives of the passenger who have evidence indicating the impossibility of departure due to serious illness or death of the person in whose name the ticket was purchased can receive compensation for an unused ticket.

Other articles on this topic:

What to do if there is an error in the air ticket Compulsory and voluntary air ticket insurance How to buy an air ticket with an open departure and return date Is it possible to buy an air ticket for another person Decoding the letter symbols on air tickets Is it possible to buy an air ticket without a passport Decoding the letter symbols of an electronic air ticket Review of flight classes on an airplane: conditions, comfort, price Airplane ticket tariffs: types, description, conditions

Procedure for a refund when returning non-refundable tickets

The general procedure for submitting claims for a refund of the cost of an unused non-refundable ticket when canceling a flight consists of the following steps.

Airline Notice

Regardless of the reason for canceling the flight (provided it complies with the norms of paragraph 2 of Article 108 of the Air Code), in order to receive a subsequent refund for the ticket, the passenger must first notify the airline of the termination of the previously concluded air transportation contract on his own initiative.

In the event that the refusal occurred due to illness or death (of the passenger or his relative), the airline can be notified by calling the hotline or sending an email - the necessary contact details can be found on the airline's website.

In this case, it is important to notify the carrier before the end of passenger check-in for the flight indicated on the ticket. If the cancellation of the flight is caused by a violation of the terms of the contract by the airline, the passenger must also notify its employees - in person or remotely.

Collection of supporting documents

After notifying the airline, the passenger will need to prepare documents confirming the validity of the refusal to fly. To confirm the presence of a serious illness (or death), you should contact a medical institution of the appropriate profile and level of authority.

The issued certificate must contain: key information about the nature of the disease, the date of issue of the certificate, as well as the seals and signatures of the responsible doctors. In situations where the impossibility of flying is related to the health of a family member (or relative), you may also need some document confirming the fact of relationship - a birth certificate, marriage certificate, change of surname, etc.

If a passenger refuses a flight due to a flight delay or other reasons stipulated by the terms of the contract, he (the passenger) must obtain from the airline employees some document confirming the fact of the violation.

In addition, if the flight is delayed, the passenger must also put the appropriate mark on the ticket: to do this, contact the airline employee responsible for checking in passengers.

Drawing up and sending an appeal

The application template can be found on the airline's website. The text must outline the essence of the situation that caused the cancellation of the flight and request a refund for the unused ticket.

If the ticket was purchased through intermediaries or as part of a tour, the request should be addressed simultaneously to the intermediary organization and the airline or travel agency, respectively.

Your application will need to include copies of previously collected documents (the list of which varies depending on the specific situation), as well as copies of your passport and air ticket. In this case, the request can only come from the passenger indicated on the ticket or his legal representative who has a valid power of attorney.

Documents can be sent by mail (the best option is by registered mail) or handed over to airline employees in person . In the second case, it is advisable to prepare two copies of the appeal, one of which, together with the prepared documents, is handed over to authorized employees, on the second they put a mark of receipt: full name and position of the person who accepted the appeal, date of acceptance, seal of the organization.

The second copy with this mark will remain with the applicant and can subsequently be used as material evidence in the event that the situation requires a judicial settlement.

Consideration of the appeal

The period for consideration of the application depends on the internal rules of the airline and, as a rule, is limited to thirty days from the date of receipt of all documents.

The refund period in most cases does not exceed ten days from the date of approval of this action by the airline. The refund itself, as a rule, is carried out in the same way as the ticket was paid for: in cash, by transfer to a bank card or e-wallet, etc.

In the event that the appeal remains unanswered, or the airline, despite the availability of all the necessary documents, as well as the compliance of the situation with the requirements of the law and the conditions specified in the terminated contract, for some reason refuses to return the money, the applicant can go to court with the appropriate lawsuit

Aeroflot

Refunds for unused Aeroflot tickets are only possible if the flight is canceled for compelling reasons:

• the plane's departure is delayed or completely cancelled;
• the company makes changes to the route of the liner;
• there is not enough space on board to accommodate all passengers;
• based on the passenger’s health status, as confirmed by medical documents;
• death of the person for whom the ticket was purchased;
• a close relative of the passenger died.

For non-refundable tickets, only a portion of the money will be refunded, minus some carrier fees. More detailed information can be obtained from the Aeroflot call center or by phone.

S7

According to the rules of this carrier, non-refundable tickets cannot be exchanged or returned. This category includes documents for departure from the Economy and Business - basic tariff plans.

Ural Airlines

For non-refundable Ural Airlines tickets, you can receive a partial refund with a deduction of a certain amount for some fees. Such an operation is possible only if there is documentary evidence of the reason why the passenger cannot complete the flight.

UTair

This company has similar rules for returning non-refundable tickets:

• the passenger must provide evidence of the forced reason for the return;
• It’s better to do this a few hours before check-in for the flight;
• the company may impose a fine for exchanging a ticket;
• not the full amount of the ticket is compensated, but only a part, with the deduction of the fee for issuing the departure document, the cost of the fare and the fuel surcharge.

However, according to experienced experts, you can receive compensation from any airline for the money spent on a ticket, although not in full. And in order not to create unnecessary problems for yourself, try to plan your upcoming plane trip correctly and not buy non-refundable tickets if there is a possibility of a sudden change in your flight plans.