Is it possible to return an air ticket without a passport? How to return an electronic air ticket with minimal financial losses. When will the money come

Unfortunately, sometimes trips have to be canceled and tickets returned. And the question immediately arises: how to do this? Is it possible to return it the way it was purchased, that is, online? Or do you need to go across the city to the ticket office? Let's see what to do when you need to cancel or reschedule a trip.

What air tickets can be returned and within what time frame?

When is a cheap plane ticket unprofitable? That's right, when exchanging or returning. You may lose all the money you spend. Pay attention to information on airline services before purchasing a ticket, not after. Then your life, as well as your plane flight, will become more comfortable.

The first rule is to read the conditions carefully before purchasing a ticket, study the information indicated on the ticket itself. If you bought a ticket marked “Non Ref” (“non refundable” in translation means non-refundable, non-refundable), then, as the name suggests, it will be impossible to return the ticket. This means you won't be able to get your money back.

Tickets with this mark are sold on low-cost airlines, that is, on budget airlines. They save on additional services such as meals during the flight, and therefore their economy class is lower than usual. Tickets marked « NonRef" They are usually sold to the cheapest seats.

Additional Information. According to the Air Code, Article 108, you can also get a refund for an economy class ticket. The fine by law is up to 25%.

A refund for a ticket without this mark is possible. Its main principle: the sooner you return your ticket, the more profitable it is for you. All the details of this procedure, and most importantly, the conditions, can be found on the same website where you ordered them. But the principles of most carriers, as regards your benefit, are as follows:

ticket deadlines;
rescheduling the flight rather than canceling it;
ticket price.

If you purchased tickets at special rates (promotions), then it is unlikely that you will be able to return the ticket. On the contrary, you can return a business class ticket without any problems.

It is much easier to return a ticket for expensive seats than for cheap ones.

If you are refused, try to negotiate a rescheduled date. Ticket fees are non-refundable.

Sometimes there may be a penalty or fees included in the return process. The approximate ratio of the funds that the airline can refund is as follows:

If you return your ticket more than 24 hours in advance, you will most likely receive about 100% of its cost (without commission).
If less - 75-80%.

By the way, if you change your mind, then immediately let the carrier know about it. You don’t have to wait or drive across town; you can give advance notice. Making a phone call or otherwise communicating will save more than just time. This may be the watch you need for a 100% refund.

Return procedure

If unforeseen circumstances happen at the last moment, then try to take into account previous wishes and return the ticket as early as possible. In this case, the amount of fines will be less. Under certain circumstances, it is possible to reschedule a flight even if the plane has already departed.

Attention! It is best to return your air ticket no later than 4 hours before the plane departs. This way you will be guaranteed to receive a partial cost of the ticket.

This is possible if you were late or were not allowed to board your flight by security. But this happens rarely. Most often, there are cases when a potential passenger refuses on his own initiative. And here the most important thing for you will be time.

Try to keep it within 24 hours, then your chances of getting a 100% refund will increase.

In order to return an air ticket, follow the following algorithm:

Contact where you purchased your ticket. The request can be sent to the ticket office, directly to the carrier or to a travel agency. There are times when an agency refuses to accept an application. In this case, bypassing the intermediary, you need to send the application directly to the airline. The main thing is to do this promptly, within 24 hours. If your agent's main argument is about the conditions of non-refundability of the ticket (marked “Non Ref”), then decide for yourself whether you will sue.
We are writing a statement. It is possible to write it on the spot, or it can be sent by email. For those who order online: the airline’s portal has ready-made forms where you need to enter your data.
If you fill out an application online, you need to attach a scan of your passport to it and send it by email.
If you want to reschedule your flight rather than return your ticket, you need to contact an airline employee or find the corresponding function on the website.
When buying a ticket through an intermediary, for example, through a travel agency, you should know that you will receive the money a little later. By contacting directly, you will be paid immediately. And through an intermediary: first the funds will be transferred to the travel agency’s account, then the intermediary will transfer them to you.

Attention! When filling out the main thing: the accuracy of the information and the absence of errors. If you have them, you will need to fill out the next application, which is not time-efficient.

If you go directly to where you bought the ticket, then be prepared to present your passport and ticket. The statement states:

your flight number;
your ticket number;
Reservation No.;
departure date and time.

Refunds will be made using the same method as payment. So, if you paid in cash, the money will be returned to you as well. Although, this now happens extremely rarely. If it was a card payment, it will be transferred to the same account. Consideration of the application lasts from a day to a month. In the case of ticket exchange - instantly. This is more profitable both in terms of time and money. If you lose, it will be the bare minimum.

Features of issuing an electronic ticket

Basically, the rules for returning electronic tickets are the same as for regular ones. You need to familiarize yourself with the return conditions and take into account that you can return it in the same way as you can receive it. Or you can contact the airline directly. There will be no difference in terms of refund here.

There are two types of returns:

Voluntary return- the method by which the vast majority of people return funds. The reasons for a voluntary return can be either force majeure circumstances at home (illness or death of loved ones) or problems at work. In this case, expensive tickets such as business class can be returned without any problems.
Forced return considered: flight delay, cancellation or rescheduling. If a passenger considers it impossible to reschedule a flight, he can contact the airline with a request for a refund. If the death of a passenger occurs suddenly, then the return is also equivalent to forced return. If the aircraft is replaced and the flight conditions (class) are changed, the passenger may request a refund if he believes that such an exchange is inconvenient for him personally.

When purchasing an e-ticket, refunds are processed in the same way. Although there is no need to return anything, since the electronic ticket exists as information in the airline's database. Your passport serves as confirmation.

The system of fines varies among carriers. You need to know the following:

fines will not be applied to those tickets that were purchased without discounts;
fines cannot be more than 25%, although in some cases airlines impose additional penalties;

Tickets purchased shortly before boarding will be just as problematic as non-refundable ones.

It’s faster and more reliable to return your ticket the same way you received it, that is, online. It’s not only faster in terms of time (you don’t have to, for example, wait until the morning to go to a company or travel agency). It is also convenient in terms of money. The money is transferred to you directly. Although in some cases, when you submit in advance and meet deadlines, you can go through this procedure through intermediaries.

Non-refundable ticket: what is it and can it be returned?

In the summer of 2014, changes were made to the Air Code, which came into force in 2015. We are talking about so-called non-refundable tickets. Non-refundable tickets are marked on the document with a note « NonRef", that is, non-refundable, non-refundable (from English). Such tickets can be:

economy class;
youth tariff (12-24 years);
promo-economy

You can only get a refund for such tickets for forced reasons (described above). In these cases, you can count on compensation from the airline. You can try to get your money back through the courts. Fees that are not considered non-refundable by law can be refunded.

Video material: how to get money back for a non-refundable ticket

Refunding air tickets is not an exceptional procedure; rather, for some categories of people it has become the norm. Therefore, you should treat it as in other cases when you act according to the law: first you should carefully read the airline’s terms of service, then buy a plane ticket.

An electronic ticket is a convenient, profitable and modern way to purchase travel passes. One of the few questions that their owners have is how to return air tickets purchased online with minimal financial losses.

A sudden illness, financial difficulties, or even a simple change in plans - all this can cause a forced or voluntary refusal to fly. At the same time, many people mistakenly believe that an electronic ticket cannot be returned. In fact, returning air tickets purchased online is not much different from returning paper tickets.

Is it possible to return an electronic plane ticket?

As with regular air tickets, it all depends on the so-called “fare” at which you bought it. In other words, the tariff is the conditions for returning and exchanging a ticket. Yes, yes, this is the same long “sheet” of text, after which, when purchasing an air ticket, you checked the “read and agree” box without even reading it.

Now is the time to return to the tariff conditions and read them carefully. You need to look for ticket refund rules on the airline's website, even if you bought it online through an intermediary.

Read also:

Each air carrier has its own return conditions; only two principles are common to all:

the more expensive the tariff, the lower the amount of the return penalty
the sooner you return your ticket, the more you will receive

There are so-called “non-refundable” air tickets ( non refundable or non ref). This is usually the cheapest or promotional rate and is non-refundable. However, you can try to exchange it for another date, albeit with an additional payment.

The reason for returning the air ticket is also important. If it is forced (cancellation or delay of a flight, illness or death of a close relative or the passenger himself), then by providing supporting documents, you can count on a refund of the maximum possible amount provided for in the tariff.

Read also:

If you want to return air tickets purchased online without a good reason, then it’s good if you can compensate for at least a minimal part of the amount. In any case, the final decision is made by the airline after considering all the circumstances of the ticket return.

How to get a refund for an air ticket purchased online

Typically, to receive a refund, you need to provide the details of the air ticket (the number of the ticket itself, as well as the flight and reservation, date and time of departure), attach a photocopy of your passport and proof of ticket purchase (a receipt or bank statement). Refunds are made only using the same method in which payment was made. If you paid by bank transfer, then the money will come to the same account, if by card, then to it. The period for receiving money is up to 1 month, but usually much faster, from 5 to 10 business days.

Before returning airline tickets purchased online, make sure this is your only option. After all, exchanging an electronic ticket for another date, even with an additional payment, will be much more profitable than buying a new one.

Buying plane tickets with electronic money is no longer a novelty for very busy people who fly a lot and don’t have time to buy at the ticket office. This system appeared in Russia quite a long time ago, but many cannot understand its capabilities and intricacies.

There are times when you need to return a ticket, with a regular ticket everything is clear, you go to the ticket office and return it, but is it possible to do this with an electronic ticket? If this is possible, how can this be done? Much to your relief, this opportunity exists and you don’t need to be a genius to take advantage of it.

Before returning a ticket, determine which category the return of your ticket belongs to. There are 2 categories of ticket return: voluntary and forced return.

Forced return is carried out in the following cases:

Flight rescheduled;
Death of a passenger. Sometimes even the death of close relatives can be classified in this category, but it depends on the airline;
Landing was canceled at the point specified in the preliminary route;
In case of a flight with a transfer, flights are not coordinated;
Replacement of service company or class.

The remaining cases of return are voluntary returns, and the amount of refund of the ticket price will be made in accordance with the airline's rules.

The final deadline for returning a ticket is set by the company itself; the most popular deadlines are:

A week before departure;
One day before departure;
1 hour before departure.

You can return your ticket by calling the company. Only funds will be returned in the same way the payment was made by the passenger.

When returning an electronic ticket, you will not receive cash if the payment was made with a credit card.

Receipt of funds for the return of an electronic ticket is carried out at the place of purchase:

From the airline providing the ticket purchasing service;
Using the online service through which the ticket was purchased.

To issue a refund of an electronic ticket, the passenger presents the following package of documents:

Passport;
Documents confirming the impossibility of departure (certificate of illness, death certificate, etc.);
Ticket payment receipts.

In case the company does not believe your truthfulness. The company has the right to require documentary evidence. It is even possible to undergo an examination by a trusted doctor of the company to confirm the passenger’s health status. This can happen if a flight is canceled due to a passenger reporting illness.

The return of the e-ticket seat is carried out in the system immediately after the person applies. You can apply for a ticket refund remotely or in person. Remote access is carried out by sending scanned documents by email.

Personal appeal, transfer of originals and copies of documents to the airline office. To quickly process a return, it is better to contact us in person. When accessing remotely, it takes time for the system to process information.

Returning seats to the system for subsequent booking is an operation that the cashier cannot cancel. Selling tickets with the same seats and at the same cost is almost impossible.

Procedure for reimbursement of expenses related to the purchase of a flight ticket

The amount of monetary compensation for the return of an air ticket depends on the fare class. Full refunds will only be issued for business class seats and other full fares. An exception to this rule is business class tickets purchased through promotions.

In case of voluntary refusal of a ticket purchased under a discount offer or during seasonal sales, a refund will only be partially made.

In case of voluntary return, the airline has the right to withhold a penalty for returning the ticket; for tickets purchased at reduced rates or with limited capabilities, it is 20-70%, unless otherwise provided by the contract. In particular, airlines retain 100% of the cost.

Let's look at the additional costs included in the payment price in addition to the cost of the seat. Such additional costs are not refunded to the client:

Bank commission for the transaction;
Intermediary tour operator services;
Commission fee;
Payment for urgent order.

These services are provided by third parties and the airline is not responsible for them. These costs are not refundable even if the passenger purchased a ticket at full fare.

Refunds for an electronic air ticket are made:

To a bank account;
To a bank account.

The right to choose a refund option remains with the client. You must notify the airline of your choice in writing.

Important! In the written notification, carefully indicate the details; cancellation or repetition of the operation will not be carried out.

During what time period is it best to return an air ticket?

Don’t forget that the sooner you issue a refund for your e-ticket, the more refund you will receive. For example, if a ticket is returned more than a day before departure, the full price will be returned, excluding commission, which is non-refundable.

Many airlines have a system of fines for customers and charge different fees. If you return your e-ticket less than 24 hours before departure, do not expect a refund of more than 75% of the cost. If you are returning your ticket on the day of departure, do your best to submit your request 4 hours before check-in to receive at least 75% of the cost.

If the application is submitted less than 4 hours before the start of registration, the penalties will increase, and the refund at best will be 50% of the ticket price.

If you missed your flight, you can return it after departure. Postpone the departure date to another day and pay a fine; in some cases, this is more profitable than returning the ticket and purchasing a new one. This case also includes a delay caused by the security service.

When does the airline return money for a returned ticket?

There is no clear answer to this question. The refund period will largely depend on the deadline for submitting the electronic ticket and submitting the application. The speed of the procedure depends on the payment method.

Money spent on purchasing an electronic air ticket can be received in the following ways:

Transfer to an electronic wallet;
Transfer to a bank account;
Transfer to a bank card.

To return the money to the card as quickly as possible, please indicate the client’s last name, first name, patronymic, as well as bank and bank account details.

To return payment for an electronic air ticket, which was made through an electronic wallet, please indicate:

Last name, first name, patronymic of the client;
Electronic wallet number;
Name of the electronic system (Yandex money, WebMoney, etc.)

When you apply for a refund of an electronic ticket, you lose the right to the seat indicated on the ticket. This location will be purchased indefinitely by another client. You have submitted an application for a refund of an electronic air ticket; from this moment you lose the right to change your mind and return your ticket. The entire procedure for returning an electronic ticket lasts from 10 to 90 days.

In order to save money, many citizens prefer to book plane tickets in advance. If, due to a life situation, a planned trip has to be cancelled, it is important to know how to return the travel document back and how much is refundable.

Which tickets are refundable?

Russian airlines are subject to domestic legislation, and therefore are obliged to return the money paid for the ticket to the passenger. This provision is spelled out in the Federal Aviation Rules and recorded in the Air Code of the Russian Federation. Please note that not the entire amount may be refunded, but only part of it, and the amount depends on the time of delivery of the travel document.

As for foreign companies involved in the transportation of passengers by air, pay attention to the rules under which they operate. This must be done before paying for the ticket. As practice shows, they return the money, but the applicant will receive the amount minus fines and commissions provided by the airline.

What is a non-refundable tariff?

When purchasing a plane ticket, you should make sure that it is not marked NON REF / NON REFUNDABLE, which means non-refundable. As a rule, they are sold on promotions or low-cost. Some companies may call non-refundable air travel documents differently. So, for example, at Aeroflot you will see the mark Budget (Saver) or Promo (Promo).

It is important to know that it is still possible to get a refund on such tickets. According to the law, the company is obliged to pay money in case of violation of the contract of carriage or in the event of a citizen’s illness (with hospitalization), and it will be necessary to provide supporting documents. In addition, you can return the amount that the carrier took in favor of other organizations under the laws of foreign states from (to, through) the territory of which the passenger must be transported.

In practice, it is very difficult to return money for NON REF tickets, so companies often offer the passenger to exchange the travel document for another date, making a small additional payment. This option is considered optimal because it is beneficial for both parties - the airline does not need to return the money, and the citizen saves time and nerves.

How to return air tickets purchased online

Currently, it is not necessary to stand in line at the ticket office to buy a plane ticket. Do this easier and faster through the World Wide Web. This is especially true for residents of cities that do not have airline offices in their locality. You can both buy and return an electronic plane ticket using the Internet. To do this, you should adhere to the following algorithm:

Apply. You need to do this on the website of the airline or aggregator where you purchased your travel document. To do this, you should fill out the form provided, entering your personal data, flight number, booking code and other information. If there is no such form on the carrier’s website, you can fill out an application in any form, but it is important to provide as much information as possible.
Make a scan of your passport and flight payment receipt (invoice). It is important to know that only the person for whom it was issued can refund plane tickets.
Upload scanned documents into the system and send an appeal, then wait for a decision.

How much money can you get back?

The ticket price includes not only the price of the flight itself, but also a number of commissions charged by the carrier to the passenger. For this reason, you cannot expect a full refund of the entire amount. The legislation defines the following conditions:

If you notify the airline no later than 24 hours before the end of the check-in period for the flight, the amount of the cost of the air travel document will be refunded, excluding the actual costs incurred.
If the carrier is notified less than 24 hours before the end of check-in, an additional penalty of 25% will be charged, although the airline is allowed to reduce this amount.
If notified later than the end of check-in for a flight, the fee will not be refunded unless there are compelling reasons for doing so.
If the airline violates the terms of the contract, the full amount of money paid will be refunded.
In case of health problems of the passenger or his relatives who must fly with him, or their death, the carrier will return the entire amount if notified before the end of check-in for the flight.

Forced and voluntary return of tickets

Please note that depending on the reason for the inability to complete the flight, the amount of compensation will differ:

Voluntary return of air tickets. The more expensive the travel document is (for example, if you travel in business class), the more money you will receive. The sooner you contact the carrier, the higher the chance of getting the full cost of the ticket back.
Forced flight cancellation. In this case, the airline will refund up to 100% of the price of the travel document, but to confirm the circumstances, it is necessary to provide documentary evidence, for example, a certificate of hospitalization or health status, a letter from the embassy about a visa refusal, etc.

For those who want to save money on their flights, airlines offer so-called non-refundable tickets. They are much cheaper than regular ones. However, if a passenger wants to return such a ticket, change the departure time, or reissue the ticket to another person, as a rule, he either will not be able to do this, or the seller will force him to pay double. But there are exceptions to every rule...

When purchasing a non-refundable ticket, a passenger must be sure that he will be able to use it. Otherwise, the trip will not take place, and the money will remain with the seller. But there are situations when the airline is obliged to return your money.

In what cases can a non-refundable ticket be returned?

For reference:

Until April 2014, any airline ticket could be returned 24 hours before departure and received a refund. Even if the passenger returned the ticket on the day of departure, the airline only withheld 25% of the ticket price.

Changes in the law (Air Code of the Russian Federation) made it possible to conclude an air transportation agreement between the passenger and the carrier, which provides for the non-refund of the carriage charge upon termination of this agreement at the initiative of the carrier (Article 107 of the RF Air Code) or the passenger (Article 108 of the RF Air Code).

A passenger can return a non-refundable ticket and receive money for it in the following cases:

illness of the passenger or illness of a member of his family, a close relative who is flying with the passenger;
death of a passenger's family member or close relative;
failure to fulfill or improper fulfillment by the airline of its obligations under the passenger air carriage agreement.

However, in order to return a “non-refundable” ticket on the above grounds, these grounds must be documented: medical document (certificate), telegram, etc.

Everything is according to the law

According to paragraph 2 of Art. 108 of the Air Code of the Russian Federation, the passenger is always refunded the carriage charge paid for air transportation, if we are talking about cases of “forced refusal of a passenger from air transportation due to the illness of the passenger or a member of his family or a close relative traveling with him on the aircraft, which is confirmed by medical documents, or in connection with the death of a member of his family or a close relative, which is documented.

According to paragraph 3 of Art. 108 of the Air Code of the Russian Federation - family members are spouses, parents and children (adoptive parents and adopted children), and close relatives - grandparents and grandchildren, full and half brothers and sisters.

Important! When purchasing a ticket on a foreign airline, sometimes it is impossible to refuse a non-refundable ticket and receive money due to illness. In Europe, it is customary to insure your life and health. The money for a canceled flight will be returned to a European passenger in case of illness by his insurance company.

How to proceed to get your money back?

For reference:

The requirement for a refund of the carriage charge is made in the manner established by the rules of the carrier, and the contract for the air carriage of passengers, the contract for the air carriage of cargo, in accordance with Art. 234 Order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia dated June 28, 2007 N 82 “On approval of the Federal Aviation Rules “General rules for air transportation of passengers, baggage, cargo and requirements for servicing passengers, shippers, consignees.”

Before your flight departs, please notify the carrier that your flight cannot be completed. Send a notification letter by email. Or call the hotline and report.
Collect evidence.
Record the fact of illness in a medical institution - see a doctor and get a certificate. Preferably with the signature of the head physician of the medical institution. If illness (death) overtook a relative who was supposed to fly with you, similar documents must be made for him.
Write a message to the airline. Explain the situation, demand a refund based on certain circumstances. Attach a certificate and photocopies of air tickets.
The airline's policies usually indicate how long they take to process refund requests (for example, up to 30 days). If there is no deadline in the rules, write that you expect a response within 10-14 days.
Send your appeal by mail, by registered mail with a list of attachments and acknowledgment of delivery. This is necessary so that you don’t have to file a claim in the future.
If you submit your application in person, submit two copies. Request that your copy be stamped for incoming correspondence.
If your appeal remains unanswered and your money is not returned, file a lawsuit.

Important! If you purchased non-refundable tickets as part of a tour, ask the travel agency to return both the money for the air tickets and the cost of the tour package that includes them.

Deadlines for filing notifications and appeals

How do you understand that the tariff is non-refundable?

For reference:

Air ticket price = fare + fees and taxes.

1) Tariff— this is the cost of the flight set by the airline. The cost of the flight depends on the length of the route, booking class and season.

2) Fees and taxes. Taxes are airport fees for aircraft ground handling - fuel, insurance and service. Has the price of fuel changed? Consequently, the price of the air ticket has also changed.

A description of the tariffs is in the rules posted on the seller’s website. Fare information is usually provided in English.

Collocation "Ticket is non-refundable" says the rate is non-refundable. That is, a passenger’s cancellation of a trip or failure to show up for boarding without a valid reason are not grounds for returning a ticket.

When purchasing, pay attention to the possibility of canceling or rescheduling a flight - sellers of non-refundable tickets often establish rules according to which, in order to change the time, date of departure or name on the ticket, you need to pay an additional fee comparable in cost to the price of air travel.

The following phrases may also appear in the rules:

Changes not permitted - the ticket cannot be exchanged
Changes any time charge eur 100.00— the ticket can be exchanged for an additional fee, for example for 100 euros (the amount depends on the airline).
Name change not permitted— you cannot change the name indicated on the ticket.
Were fare is non-refundable any time in this case YQ/YR surcharges are also non-refundable.— Taxes (YQ/YR) cannot be returned if the ticket fare is non-refundable.

For Russian airlines, these tariffs are usually indicated by words like “Economy”, “Standard”, “Basic”, “Promo”.
Sometimes non-refundable tickets are sold during promotions airlines.

If you are not sure that you will be able to use a non-refundable ticket, it is better to buy a regular ticket that can be returned.

Attention! You can return some of the money even without a good reason.