Return of non-refundable tickets due to illness. How to get a refund for a non-refundable ticket

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The higher the benefit received, the more the person risks: non-refundable plane tickets are exactly the case. On the one hand, you get the opportunity to buy a ticket at a very affordable price, and on the other hand, the impossibility of returning it if the flight does not suit you for any personal reasons. How to be, so as not to lose money or return at least part of it, we will consider further.

First of all, you should be guided in some legal nuances in order to understand what can be demanded and why the airline may refuse. In the territory Russian Federation there is a law on non-refundable air tickets, which gives carriers the right to refuse passengers to return tickets. This was done not to make more profit (the non-refundable airfare is low), but because if the flight is canceled with compensation for the cost of the flight coupon, the company does not have time to resell it and loses money.

However, the answer to the question of whether it is possible to purchase inexpensive non-refundable plane tickets and then return them is not always negative. For example, the possibility of an exchange depends entirely on the internal conditions of the company. Therefore, it is important to read the terms of the tariff before purchasing. They must have a notice about whether the ticket is refundable, it can be changed or it cannot be returned. In order for the passenger to receive their funds back, the terms and conditions must not contain restrictions on refunds.

Exception for non-refundable tickets in Russia there is, in some cases money for a plane ticket can be returned. How to use this exemption and what else a passenger may be entitled to should be known to everyone who travels by airlines.

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Is it possible to return a non-refundable plane ticket

In accordance with the current rules, it is not difficult to determine which tickets are non-refundable. These include economy flight coupons and low-cost airline tickets. charter flights. Non-refundable tickets are allowed to return with a partial or full refund only if the passenger is unable to fly his flight due to force majeure. These include:

To return a non-refundable flight ticket based on one of the above reasons, you must report the change in your plans prior to check-in for the flight. If a person dies, the money for the flight coupon can be returned by his relatives.

It is not always possible to get the full amount back, since the price of a flight coupon consists of several components. For example, a fuel surcharge is taken into account when returning purchased non-refundable tickets, insurance, and so on. What exactly is included in the airline's fare should be recorded on its website in the "Fare Terms" section, as you can see on the Aeroflot website.

If you carefully read the rules before purchasing electronic air coupons or plane tickets at the box office, there will be no difficulties in how to hand over the document, having good reasons for that. But even if you have one, hand over your tickets on time.

Rebooking a non-refundable ticket

The exchange of non-refundable plane tickets is a more complicated issue. After making changes to the Air Code of the Russian Federation, most of the companies transferred the cheapest fares to the non-refundable category. This also includes travel documents purchased through a promotion.

It is impossible to exchange a ticket of this category as a standard, but here it is not without exception. Only everything will no longer depend on the law, but on the carrier. Again, it is important to read the fare conditions of the company from which you are purchasing your flight coupon. For example, some completely prohibit the possibility of rebooking, exchanging, making changes, others provide such an opportunity, but for an additional fee. At the same time, the additional fee is not always fixed and may depend on the class of a non-refundable plane ticket, which is also necessarily fixed in the company's generally available conditions.

The possibility of rebooking also means a surcharge if the cost of the ticket you receive in exchange is higher than the previously purchased one.

You have the right to exchange tickets without additional money and fines in the following cases:

Serious illness, if you did not return the coupon;
Death of a close relative;
Flight cancellation or delay.

The procedure for the exchange is the same as the procedure for the return of money.

Is it possible to return the money

You can get a refund for a non-refundable plane ticket only if you are not flying due to force majeure. Whether it will be the fault of the airline or the hospitalization of the passenger - the procedure is the same and must be followed:

If the reason for returning a non-refundable ticket is a flight cancellation, you will be reimbursed for the amount spent only on the condition that the check-in employee or airline employee puts the appropriate cancellation confirmation on the flight coupon and certifies it with a seal. When thinking about whether it is possible to additionally claim compensation for the financial damage suffered, it is worth considering that this is possible only when you have receipts confirming this damage in your hands. These can be hotel booking receipts, tickets to a concert that you didn’t get to due to the fact that you didn’t fly away after booking on a canceled flight.

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Benefits of non-refundable tickets

A non-refundable ticket is essentially a flight coupon, which in a normal situation is not subject to voluntary exchange or return by the airline. But it is beneficial for customers to buy such an air ticket, since its price is significantly lower. It is the cost that is the main benefit factor in this case.

Most companies around the world provide passengers with the opportunity to purchase an economy class flight coupon and shares on virtually the same irrevocable conditions. Each company sets its own prices, prescribes internal conditions, tariff plans, the possibility and size of the surcharge for the exchange.

For those who confidently plan a trip without looking back at the circumstances, this is an excellent option that does not carry risks other than force majeure, such as a canceled flight. But in the event of such, the money will be returned, so there is nothing to worry about.

You can, without hesitation, buy inexpensive non-refundable tickets if:

The possibility of exchange is only in some airlines, so be aware of possible changes in your plans.

Reasons to refrain from ordering a non-refundable ticket:

A sickly child whom you cannot trust to relatives;
The boss may not give you vacation exactly for the period you planned;
The visa has not been finally approved;
You intend to take a lot of luggage;

There are other ways to save money, such as keeping an eye on profitable promotions and offers, track prices and their fall, select an inexpensive country.

Where can I complain

Often, with the question of what to do if the tickets are refundable, but the company refuses to return the money paid, citizens are faced suddenly and being unprepared. This causes a loss of time allotted for filling out an application if a person starts to panic. Therefore, it is in the interests of every passenger who uses airlines to read not only the conditions of the airline for general information, but also to know how to defend their legal right in case of refusal to fly due to force majeure or cancellation, rescheduling of the flight.

Initially, an application is submitted to the airline where non-refundable tickets were purchased. If you were refused, which must be in writing, then a claim is filed Federal agency air transport. The complaint can be sent by registered mail or electronically directly from the official website of the FAVT at the link .

The relevant documents must be attached to the application, claim, complaint:

If the submitted claims do not give the desired result, it makes sense to consult a lawyer as to whether it is possible to return the funds paid for the tickets that you return, to collect additional compensation. If the legal analysis is in your favor, you should file a lawsuit against the airline.

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When plans suddenly change and a vacation has to be postponed or canceled, the question of returning air tickets immediately arises ...

For some, you can easily return the money or exchange it for another date, while for others, if you cancel the trip, the money spent will not be returned at all. The travel portal site found out the nuances of returnable and non-refundable tariffs and will tell you about it.

As it was before

Until June 2014, only return tickets were sold in Russia, which could be returned even before departure. In this case, the passenger was refunded 75% of the cost, since if the ticket was returned less than a day before the flight, the carrier withheld a fine of 25%. When the ticket was returned a few days before the scheduled date of travel, its full cost was returned.

True, when returning tickets, they charged service fees, which each airline had its own, but in general it was possible to return almost all the money spent on the ticket. However, the risks of canceling the flight were included in the fare - due to this, the cost of the ticket increased.

After the start of the changes in the Air Code, the so-called non-refundable tickets were introduced. The authorities believed that the innovations would create fertile ground for the development of low-cost airlines in Russia. However, all carriers have made the cheapest flights non-refundable. In addition, the fares on the market have become more flexible - not only non-refundable and non-exchange tickets have appeared, but also those providing for a flight without luggage. As a result, fly domestic destinations became about 25% cheaper.

How to find out the fare of your ticket

The cost of an air ticket is formed from two parts: fare and fees, taxes. The fare is directly the cost of air travel, which the carrier sets depending on the length of the route, class (business or economy) and season. But there are also airport charges for ground handling of airliners, service, insurance and fuel charges.

Before purchasing a ticket, study the information on the website where you make the purchase - the fare rules should be indicated there. Look for the following phrases (they are written in English):

TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE IN CASE OF CANCEL/NO-SHOW is a non-refundable ticket. If the passenger did not show up for boarding or canceled the trip without a good reason, there will be no refund for such a ticket. Sometimes only part of the wording is indicated - Ticket is non-refundable. But the meaning remains the same.

CHANGES NOT PERMITTED - tickets that cannot be exchanged.

CHANGES ANY TIME CHARGE EUR 50.00 - to exchange such a ticket, you will have to pay 50 euros. The amount may differ for different airlines.

NAME CHANGE NOT PERMITTED - the name cannot be changed on the ticket.

WHERE FARE IS NON-REFUNDABLE ANY TIME IN THIS CASE YQ/YR SURCHARGES ARE ALSO NON-REFUNDABLE - in this case, "YQ/YR" stands for taxes. It is understood that if the ticket fare is non-refundable, then taxes are non-refundable.

Non-refundable fares of Russian air carriers

Aeroflot passengers can use one of two non-refundable fares: Economy Budget and Economy Promo.

For S7 Airlines non-refundable the fare is "Basic", including "Business Basic" and "Economy Basic".

UTair does not accept back tickets purchased under Economy Standard and Economy Light fares.

Wu " Ural Airlines» Promotional rates are non-refundable.

Pobeda does not accept back tickets purchased under the "Package Plus" and "Standard" fares.

Nordwind Airlines - at the Promo tariff.

What are the rules for foreign airlines

Abroad, the rules are quite different. Foreign air carriers do not have permanent non-refundable fares. As a rule, tickets purchased through sales and promotions are not accepted back. In other cases, it is necessary to read the fare rules.

The exception is low-cost airlines, where most of the tickets are non-refundable. However, in some cases, the passenger is allowed to change the name on the ticket for an additional fee.

Are non-refundable tickets profitable?

Most carriers have both refundable and non-refundable fares for business and economy classes. The difference between refundable and non-refundable tickets in the same class is only that the former can be refunded, while the latter cannot. At the same time, chairs, meals and other services remain the same.

Return tickets are always more expensive. For example, to book a flight from Moscow to Rome on August 11 at Aeroflot at a non-refundable fare, you will have to pay 14,890 rubles. For comparison, the airline has two return fares - "Economy Optimum" worth 18,155 rubles (with 70 euros for the return) and "Economy Premium" worth 22,640 rubles (in this case, the return and exchange will be free).

How to return a ticket

If plans have changed and you are going to cancel your flight, immediately contact the support service of the service where you purchased the ticket and inform about your intention to return it. In some cases, when returning a ticket, a fine is charged: this condition should be contained in the fare rules. The closer to departure, the greater the amount of the fine - it can reach up to half the cost of the ticket. After the end of check-in for the flight (for some carriers - after departure), the ticket will not be accepted back.

Formulate your request to the support service as clearly as possible: you intend to return the ticket and cancel the flight altogether or want to exchange it for another date. Clearly understanding the task, the airline employee will be able to help you.

Some carriers exchange or return tickets only at the sales office, while others can do this remotely. It is better to find out in advance by studying the fare rules. When buying a ticket in a special service, it must also be returned through the service.

How to return a non-refundable ticket

In some situations, money for a non-refundable ticket will still be returned. This can be done in the case of the so-called "forced return". The reasons for this may be a violation by the carrier of the conditions of the flight, or the death or serious illness of one of the passengers.

In the latter case, it is necessary to notify the airline of the circumstances as soon as possible. The carrier will remove you from the flight and request documents that confirm the impossibility of the flight. It is important to contact the airline before check-in is complete.

It is considered that the airline violated the conditions of carriage if the flight was canceled or delayed for a long time. Delay times vary between carriers, in any case, this is indicated in the rules.

Decision on forced return accepted by the carrier. For example, for many foreign airlines, medical reasons are not grounds for a refund, since insurance is popular in the USA and Europe, including flights. Thus, in the event of unforeseen circumstances, the cost of buying a ticket is covered by insurers.

Is it possible to at least partially refund the cost of a non-refundable ticket?

Can. As mentioned above, the ticket price consists of two parts - the fare and fees. The Air Code says that only the fare part is not returned. Therefore, airport and fuel surcharges can be refunded unless otherwise specified in the fare rules. For example, S7 Airlines does not refund YQ (fuel surcharge), YR (reservation service fee) and ticket issuance fee when issuing tickets at the Economy Basic fare. The passenger will receive back only fees for unused sections of the flight and airport taxes.

However, even if you add up all the taxes, a small amount will come out.

When is it better to buy a non-refundable ticket?

If you are sure that you will not cancel your trip and are not afraid of losing money, buy a non-refundable ticket. If there is still a possibility of changing plans, it is worth spending a little more money, but purchasing a return ticket.

Unexpected news - completely non-refundable tickets do not exist. There is a chance to return at least a small part of the money even in the case of promotional tickets of the cheapest low-cost airlines. We'll show you how to check it out.

What does he saylegislation?

Every country in the world has an Air Code that regulates, among other things, the tariff policy of airlines and the rules for the return of air tickets (termination of the contract of carriage). All these codes must comply with international standards civil aviation established by the ICAO and IATA organizations. Therefore, it seems that all the Air Codes are carbon-copied.

According to these codes, not the entire ticket is considered non-refundable, but only its fare , or carriage charge (Article 101 of the Air Code of the Republic of Belarus, Article 108 of the Air Code of the Russian Federation, Section XVIII of the Aviation Regulations of Ukraine). The rest of the unused taxes and fees added to the fare must be refunded by the airline. This rule applies to the vast majority of countries and air carriers. By the way, by giving a discount on a ticket, the airline reduces its own fare. Therefore, for promotional tickets, taxes and fees can take up a large part of the cost.

And, of course, A non-refundable ticket can be fully refunded in three cases: the passenger himself or his close relative is ill and needs care; a close relative has died; the flight was delayed, rescheduled or cancelled. The first two cases must be confirmed by certificates. Some airlines also refund the full cost of non-refundable tickets if you are denied a visa. Moreover, without any additionally purchased travel insurance. Be sure to check with the specific airline.

So what are the fees?

When buying an air ticket and in the itinerary receipt itself, the fare is allocated as a separate line. Next come taxes, fees and charges. Sometimes they are divided by types of payments, and sometimes they are written immediately in a single amount. By law, unused taxes and fees are refundable. However, it's too early to rejoice! It may well turn out that you have already used some fees from the itinerary receipt or the airline has included a condition with an asterisk in the fare description. So, first, let's look at the types of fees.

Service Fee (YR)

This ticket issuance fee is non-refundable as the service has already been rendered. The good news is that if you bought your ticket online from the airline's website, then most likely this fee will be zero. As a rule, this includes commissions of agents, ticket offices and other intermediaries who issue tickets.

Fuel surcharge (YQ)

This aviation kerosene fee is a significant portion of all charges. By and large, it should be included in the tariff. However, fuel prices sometimes change at lightning speed, and tariffs are allowed to be reviewed, as a rule, once every six months. Therefore, the fuel charge is allocated as a separate fee.

Here, the airline can install the same “asterisk” and not return the money paid. By the way, most low-cost airlines do just that. But even if the fuel surcharge is returned according to your fare, be sure to check the rules of the airline. Some carriers only do this if you canceled your ticket before departure.

As for the size of the fuel surcharge, it depends on the flight range and can reach up to $100, for example, there is a flight from Europe to Asia or America. On regional routes, such a fee can fluctuate around $ 15-50.

Airport taxes (DE, OY, RA, RI)

Finally got to the unconditionally refundable fees! The amount of the airport tax is set by the airports themselves for the use of their systems, services and amenities: pre-flight screening, check-in, baggage check-in, waiting rooms, and more. If you did not arrive at the airport and did not check in for the flight, then this fee must be returned to you!

The amount of airport taxes depends on the class of service. For economy passengers, it is usually $10-$20 per flight, depending on the airport and carrier. In the base fares of low-cost airlines, this fee is reduced to a minimum, so they require an additional fee for checking in at the airport and dropping off luggage.

What taxes are included in the air ticket?

In addition to various fees, air tickets often include taxes on leaving the country (travel / departure / exit tax). If local legislation does not prohibit, airlines may not include such taxes in the ticket price, especially low-cost airlines. Then the passenger will have to pay this amount at the airport. If taxes are included in the ticket, and you did not fly on it, then the airline is obliged to return this amount.

In addition to the departure tax, some states impose airport development fees (Panama), security taxes (Spain, USA, Guyana) and arrival fees (Honduras, USA). It happens that taxes apply only to tourists who have spent a long time in the country. For example, "departure tax" in Colombia you need to pay if you have been in the country for more than 60 days. In addition, sometimes there are discounts on "exit taxes" for children and pensioners.

Travel/Departure Tax for Adult Economy Class Passengers*

Europe

Germany (€8 - €45)
Sweden (€7-€42)
Austria (€7-€35)
UK (£13 - £78)

Africa

Egypt ($25)

Asia

Sri Lanka ($50)
Philippines ($31)
Cambodia ($25)
Thailand ($22)
Hong Kong ($15)
Indonesia ($14)
China ($11)
Laos ($10)
Malaysia ($9.50)
Japan ($9)
Brunei ($9)
Bangladesh ($3.50)

America and the Caribbean

Panama ($60)
Mexico ($60)
Honduras ($36)
Jamaica ($35)
Bermuda ($35)
El Salvador ($32)
Ecuador ($30 and $41 in Quito)
Costa Rica ($29)
Guyana ($25)
Cuba ($25)
Dominican Republic ($2 0)
US ($18.60)

Near East

Lebanon ($40)
Saudi Arabia ($23)

Australia and Oceania

Palau ($100)
Fiji ($93)
Australia ($42)
Samoa ($25)

* Taxes are usually paid in local currency. Above, they are converted into US dollars at the rates in force at the time of the publication of the article.
For Europe, two tax rates are indicated: for short flights and long distances. For the rest of the world, taxes are calculated in the case of a flight to Europe.

So how to return a non-refundable ticket?

Taxes and fees for a non-refundable ticket can be refunded both before the flight and after the departure date, unless, of course, you boarded the plane.

1. To get started, check the amount of taxes and fees on your ticket, as well as check the fare rules (first of all, we are interested in the return of the fuel surcharge).

2. If you return the ticket before the departure date, you must first cancel the reservation. As a rule, this can be done on the airline's website using the booking number. This is a very important point - some airlines require that cancellations occur no later than 24 hours before departure.

3. Send a ticket refund request (if it was bought through intermediaries, you need to issue a refund through them).

4. In a letter or request, write that you want to return not a “ticket”, but “unused taxes and fees”.

5. If there is no special form for the refund of fees and taxes on the airline's website, send a request through the regular refund form and do not forget to indicate that it is taxes and fees that you require back.

6. Do not fall for messages that your ticket is "non-refundable". Know that in this case you are right, and they are breaking the law. If you don't get your taxes and fees back, the airline will just keep them.

Pay attention. Some air carriers ask you to apply for a refund of fees for unused tickets only after the date of the flight. If your fare provides for a refund of the fuel surcharge, it is better to do this before the flight. Some airlines (for example, Aeroflot) refund YQ fees only in this case.

How do airlines deal with such a refund?

As a rule, all full-service airlines strictly comply with the requirements of the law. In the rules for the cheapest promotional fares, they may cancel the return of the fuel surcharge (for example, Aeroflot and Alitalia do this), but they will return all other taxes without fail. Some large full-service companies (for example, Air France) even refund fuel surcharges on non-refundable tickets. But with low-cost airlines, not everything is so smooth.

The desire of a person to save money on a flight results in the search for plane tickets at the lowest possible prices. Usually, booking of such places is available on board low-cost airlines and tourist charters. However, such a cost indicates that the airline customer has purchased a non-refundable airfare. What this means and how relevant the benefit becomes, we will understand a little lower.

Since the beginning of the summer of 2014, people have been able to purchase non-refundable air tickets. This right is enshrined at the legislative level by the draft State Duma. In the name of the tariff lies the decoding of the term. The purchase of seats on board of this class makes it impossible for the airlines to return money to the client if the passenger refuses to fly for personal reasons. True, here the legislators took into account some exceptions, which we will discuss later.

From now on, airline customers independently determine the conditions for booking seats on the liner. If a person is interested in the flight and is sure that circumstances will not interfere with starting the journey at the scheduled time, such a passenger has the right to buy non-refundable plane tickets. The opposite situation forces you to purchase a standard fare ticket. In such a case, the passenger has a guarantee that the airlines will reimburse the cost of the unused flight.

Such transportation rules provide the same working conditions for domestic airlines and foreign companies. After all, the amount of the fare includes restrictions on the transportation of the client's things in the luggage compartment. These rules reduce the nominal cost of the flight by 15% and help to avoid misunderstandings with baggage on connecting joint flights with low-cost airlines of foreign airlines.

In addition, the authorities have amended the law and tightened the rules since July 2014. Up to this point, airlines have reimbursed unused tickets purchased by passengers on similar terms. Moreover, the carrier returned the full fare to customers if they refused to fly, and in case of late requests, they imposed a fine of 25% of the face value. Usually such a concept meant the delivery of an air ticket in the last 24 hours before the departure of the board. However, after the amendments come into force, such a solution to the issue is excluded. Although here, too, customers will find a loophole and be able to return a partial ticket price.

Features of innovations

Considering the desire of carriers to get as rich as possible with minimal investment, the adopted law does not work quite the way its developers planned. The idea of adopting such innovations was to introduce a category of budget tickets on the domestic aviation market, but the reality today is different. Airlines hurried to transfer the cheap flights available at that time into a similar category irrevocably. This approach is different from the typical policy of foreign carriers.

For example, in the West, budget tariffs are regularly changed depending on the onset of "low" seasons, days of the week and holidays. Here, they actively use this technology to increase customer loyalty, arranging promotional offers and organizing low-cost flights on days with minimal passenger traffic. In Russia, non-refundable tickets have become separate category cheap flights forever. Airlines have even introduced special names for such a fare.

So that a beginner does not make a mistake when choosing the right seat on board, it is important to carefully study the conditions offered by the airline at the stage of booking a seat. This is usually marked "non-refundable" in red. In addition, airlines indicate specific travel conditions for the tariff plan chosen by the passenger.

Will it be possible to return the funds

Perhaps the most important topic for Russians is the question of how to return money for a ticket with a non-refundable fare. In most cases, airlines refuse customers such a request. Indeed, today this right is enshrined in law. The passenger runs the risk of encountering such situations under the following circumstances:

change in the client's plans;
disruption of docking during independent route planning;
late for check-in and boarding;
illness of relatives;
refusal to fly the passenger's companion;
deterioration in the client's well-being, not documented;
force majeure circumstances.

Now consider the exceptions, how to return a non-refundable plane ticket. Airlines provide customers with this right in special situations. Let's list this list, which looks like this:

Confirmed disease. If the passenger or his companions are sick and can present the relevant document to the airline employee, the carrier will refund the amount spent on the purchase of the ticket.
Death. Recognizing a person as deceased allows relatives to return money for an unused air ticket. The same rule applies to family members of the passenger. True, the carrier will have to report this before the take-off of the liner.
Departure schedule changes. It will be possible to return a non-refundable ticket and compensate for the amount spent if the airline delays the departure of the aircraft for 4 hours or canceled the flight altogether.

According to lawyers, airlines return funds to the client even in case of violations of joint agreements. This includes a change in the airport of arrival, and unplanned circumstances - the main thing is that such conditions should not appear when booking a seat by a passenger.

In addition, customers always have the right to recover losses at least partially. After all, the amount for the flight consists of several components. This includes the tariff, airport tax, insurance premiums and other similar payments. Therefore, all the money, in addition to the tariff plan, can be returned without problems.

Compensation algorithm

Let's see if it's possible to return non-refundable tickets " Aeroflot". After all, this carrier is popular in our country today and is partially owned by the state. If your case fits within the terms of the refund, count on full compensation for rash costs. To do this, it is appropriate for the passenger to contact the airline's call center and find out about the details of such a procedure.

Consider the common case of canceling a flight due to a sudden illness of a client. This procedure is simple and represents the following algorithm of client actions:

Cancellation of booking.
Collection of documents.
Handing over the papers to the airline and writing an application for a refund.

If the client has correctly and timely fulfilled the necessary conditions, the airlines will compensate the full cost of the canceled flight. The money is transferred by bank transfer to the accounts from where the passenger made the purchase. The return period is 3-10 days. To find out the details, we specify the conditions for the execution of each step of this algorithm.

The nuances of a refund

So, an obligatory step, without which the following actions are meaningless, is the removal of the seat reservation. To do this, just contact the representative of the airlines by phone or come to the office of the company. After notification by the passenger, Aeroflot” will confirm that the place has been taken. Keep in mind that such actions are advisable before the end of the flight check-in, otherwise the meaning of the plan is lost.

The first step is to cancel the flight booking at the airline office or by phone.

Other actions are permissible after the departure of the liner. The passenger collects documents that will become the basis for compensation for the amount spent in vain. It is better to start with a trip to the doctors. Airlines require a certificate stating the medical reason and the date explaining the refusal to fly. on a specific flight. The document must contain the personal seal of the doctor and the stamp of the clinic. Moreover, the type of form and the severity of the disease do not play a role here.

If you booked for a flight alone, it is enough to confine yourself to the original and a copy of your passport. When the whole family was forced to miss the flight, the airline will require from the applicant documents confirming family ties and copies of the passports of the applicant's companions. In situations where the passenger is on inpatient treatment, a power of attorney and documents of the person to whom the client delegates the case will be required.

The last step is to visit the company's office. Here, the passenger gives the airline employee a package of papers and draws up an application with a request to return the money. The form of writing the form here will be prompted by an employee of the airline. However, such a scheme works only with direct purchase of an air ticket on the official portal of the carrier. Purchasing seats through aggregators or intermediaries does not guarantee a successful refund.

If you have collected all the necessary papers and provided them to the airline employee, you will be transferred the money for the ticket within 3-10 business days

However, only a few domestic companies pursue such a policy. The desire to compensate for the flight by a low-cost airline, even for a good reason, is likely to result in the carrier's refusal to pay for the passenger's misses. Most overseas airlines do not offer refunds for missed flights.

Purchase Details

Finally, find out where non-refundable tickets are sold. Today, such tickets can be found on the carrier's website, ticket office, terminal portal, online aggregators, and travel agencies. It will be possible to reserve a place on the liner in any available way - after all, the tariff plan does not imply restrictions for people in this situation.

It will be possible to buy a non-refundable ticket at all points of sale of plane tickets

In order not to make a mistake when buying, study the information about the tariff plan of a particular ticket in advance. In addition, check the conditions of the flight and baggage allowance - different airlines change their approach depending on the needs of customers. Some companies have completely abandoned this practice and, say, on the portal " NordAvia”, you will not find tickets from this category.

Since 2014, the law on non-refundable air tickets has been in force.
Tickets of this fare cannot be returned if the passenger canceled the flight for personal reasons
Missing a flight does not become a basis for a refund for an unused ticket of a non-refundable fare
The illness of a passenger or his companion, documented, will be a legitimate reason to return the money
For a non-refundable missed flight refund, please contact the airline call center for the correct procedure.

Non-refundable air tickets in our country appeared in 2014 due to special amendments to the Air Code of the Russian Federation. Since then, passengers have been able to choose between cheaper fares, at the risk of losing money if they change plans, or more expensive return tickets.

However, even if you have chosen the cheapest fare, but cannot fly for a good reason, you have the right to return the full cost of the ticket. The staff correspondent of "Rossiyskaya Gazeta" in Kaliningrad, whose two trips failed last year at once, was convinced of this from personal experience.

Last November, my husband and I were supposed to fly to Thailand. The trip was organized by ourselves - we bought tickets from a Russian air carrier, booked hotels. There were a few days left before the flight. And suddenly - high fever, cough, headache. “Of course, you shouldn’t fly from winter to summer,” the therapist said.

Tickets from Kaliningrad to Moscow, from Moscow to Bangkok and back, which cost about 100 thousand rubles, were purchased at a non-refundable fare. The rules of this tariff made it possible to postpone the departure date by paying about 20 thousand rubles. I didn't want to lose money or plan my next vacation. After drinking an antipyretic, I began to study the Air Code of the Russian Federation and the Federal Aviation Rules. And I found the right clue.

The fact is that, along with the provisions on non-refundable air tickets, an article appeared in the Air Code of the Russian Federation on the forced refusal of a passenger from transportation. In certain cases, it allows you to return the money in full even for non-refundable tickets. We are talking about the illness of a passenger, a member of his family or a close relative, who is traveling with him on aircraft or death of a family member or close relative of the passenger.

The list of valid reasons also includes being late for the plane due to a long inspection at the airport - if the passenger did not find prohibited items. Money can be returned in case of flight cancellation, deviation from the schedule, change of route, refusal of the carrier to provide the passenger with a seat on the plane, inability to connect flights if the flight with a transfer was purchased as a single ticket.

Submit your sick leave

What to do if there is a flight on the nose, and you get sick? First of all, call " hotline"air carrier, if you bought tickets directly, or through an agency, if you used the services of an intermediary. Inform that you are canceling air travel due to illness of a passenger. It is extremely important to do this no later than 40 minutes before the departure of the aircraft - these are the requirements of the law.

Along with the provisions on non-refundable air tickets, an article appeared in the Air Code of the Russian Federation on the forced refusal of a passenger from transportation. It allows you to return money even for non-refundable tickets

The disease must be confirmed by medical documents. The requirements for them, according to the Federal Aviation Rules, are determined by the carriers. Therefore, ask the representative of the airline or intermediary agency what kind of certificates you must provide. In our case, the airline requested a disability certificate, the dates of which overlap with the date of departure. In addition, the carrier was ready to accept a certificate from a doctor, certified by a round official seal. The certificate must indicate the dates of illness and one of three recommendations: do not fly, do not change climate zone, observe bed rest.

When your health returns to normal, go to the office of the carrier or intermediary with a civil passport, with a passport if a ticket was purchased with it, and with medical certificates.

If there is no airline office in your city, send documents by mail. Some airlines accept scans of documents using the form feedback on your site.

My husband and I had an issue resolved very quickly. Having closed the sick leave, I went to the carrier's office and wrote a statement. A week later, the airline transferred the money to the card with which the purchase was made in full.

Indivisible Tickets

In December 2018, I had a flight to St. Petersburg. Moreover, I had to fly to the Northern capital with one airline, and back - with another. This made it easier and cheaper. The tickets were also non-refundable. “I won’t get sick for the second time in a row,” I thought. And she got sick. I was hospitalized to have a tumor (luckily benign) cut out. Now I already knew what to do with my "non-returnable" trip. I called transport agency, where I bought tickets, canceled the reservation. Find out what medical documents are required. The first carrier was ready to accept an extract from the hospital, the second - a sick leave.

There is one important nuance here. If you are flying two different airlines, you will need to prove that you were sick not only on the day of departure from point A to point B, but also on the day of return from point B to point A. I succeeded because the sick leave lasted three weeks and covered both flights. I received the money about a month after contacting the transport agency.

But if you fly away, for example, on a two-week vacation and before the flight you fell ill with SARS for a short time, the return flight will not be included in the period of illness. The airline arranging the return flight may refuse to refund your money. Therefore, if you are planning a long trip and doubt your health, it is better to buy an indivisible round-trip ticket of one airline. Then the sick leave valid on the date of departure will be enough to refund the entire cost of this single ticket.

Under the family members and close relatives, the Air Code of the Russian Federation means spouses, parents and children, brothers and sisters, including those who have only one common parent, grandfathers, grandmothers and grandchildren.