Irrevocable tickets. Is it legal?

For frequent flyers, there is no news that the airlines have different tariffs. Modern electronic air tickets can be sold at different prices in the same direction, and their cost depends on many factors. Non-return tickets are, as a rule, tickets at the lowest fare. Most passengers tend to buy tickets at the lowest prices, in which case you need to pay attention to the rules of application of tariffs and conditions for the sale of air tickets.

What is the price of the ticket

All airlines have their own pricing policy. The ticket price includes not only the airline's profit, but also various charges: airport, fuel, commission agents fees and many others. The tariff itself can be low, but additional fees and duties make the price of air travel much higher. At different times you can buy a ticket of the same company for the same direction for different amounts: for example, long before the flight the flight is relatively inexpensive, the day before - more expensive. Thus, airlines encourage passengers to purchase tickets in advance. In addition to the division into classes - first class, business, economy, etc., there are gradations within one class. For example, an economy can also be divided into 3-4 tariffs, each with its own application rules. Irrevocable air tickets are found in most airlines and are in demand with many passengers. Many buyers think that the price depends on the agency in which the ticket is purchased. This is only partly: the fact is that while the passenger is looking for a cashier "cheaper", time goes by, air tickets are bought up by other passengers, and as a result, only the most expensive ones remain, and the customer regrets that he did not purchase a ticket for the first proposed price. This is a fairly common situation, especially when there is not much time left before the departure of the aircraft, sometimes it is not hours but minutes that play a role. International air ticket reservation systems where sales are offered, offer all available seats on the flight at the same time in all ticket offices, and tickets are sold in real time.

Rules for the application of tariffs

Each tariff has rules of application - they are available in all reservation systems and are presented in English. These rules specify how it is possible to return the ticket or exchange it by changing the departure dates. All actions with the purchased ticket are made only according to the rules of application of a specific tariff. They are installed by the airline carrier itself and are strictly observed by all agents selling tickets for flights. Non-return air tickets are more often than not, the cheapest air tickets that can not be returned if the passenger refuses to fly - this information is necessarily spelled out in the rules of application. When buying such tickets, the passenger is obliged to warn that it is impossible to return tickets, at some points of sale and ticket offices even take a signature from the passenger that he has been acquainted with the rules and agrees.

What are non-return flights?

All airlines strive to maximize the number of their passengers. Air travel is not the cheapest type of travel, and in connection with this circumstance, airlines are trying to offer low-cost airline tickets to passengers. To do this, non-refundable tariffs are being developed - tickets at the minimum cost. And that the company does not suffer losses, these tickets become irrecoverable. If the passenger bought the cheapest ticket, he can not refuse to travel or lose money spent on buying an air ticket. Often, a combined tariff is used - a combination of a non-refundable and a refundable tariff in one ticket, so the rules for a non-refundable tariff apply not to one segment, but to the whole flight.

Return of non-refundable tickets

Unfortunately, there are often situations when a passenger purchases tickets in advance, and then, some time before departure, his plans change, and he is forced to abandon the flight. Then the passenger is interested in the question of how to return non-return air tickets, and can this be done? If in the rules of applying the tariff when buying a particular ticket it was indicated that the ticket is non-refundable - then, most likely, it will not be possible to return it. Some time ago, all Russian airlines canceled non-refundable tariffs, as this runs counter to consumer rights. There is the RF Air Code, in which there is a 108th article, and it states that a passenger is entitled to return money for a ticket if he refuses a flight earlier than 24 hours before the flight. And even if before departure less than a day, you can return at least 75% of the ticket price. In practice, in order to return a non-refundable ticket, you can apply to the court by filing a lawsuit against the airline, then after the trial, it is possible that the money will be returned. However, this does not apply to foreign airlines - they establish their own rules, according to their state laws, and Russian codes do not obey.

In which cases is a refund provided

Almost all airlines have a number of cases where you can return non-return air tickets. For example, if there is a medical certificate that the passenger's state of health does not allow him to fly, in the event of death of the passenger or the death of his next of kin. Even if the passenger purchased non-refundable tickets, the law will still allow you to return the money spent on its purchase. One should be aware that these procedures will take some time, especially if the case takes a judicial turn. It should also be borne in mind that if tickets were bought at the agency, it is easier to contact the airline directly, since agents also can not go against the rules of the carrier and return money to the passenger without the company's permission.