Non-refundable tickets: can they be returned and when is a non-refundable fare beneficial?

If you return your tickets on the eve of departure, the airline is unlikely to have time to sell them. This means that the seats on the plane will be empty and the carrier will suffer losses.

To avoid taking risks, airlines came up with non-refundable tickets: they cannot be returned, so the carrier is confident that it will make money. And in order for passengers to buy such air tickets, low prices were set for them.

By buying plane tickets that cannot be returned or exchanged without penalty, you save money, but you take a risk. This option is suitable for people who are confident in themselves and their plans.

A non-refundable airline ticket is a ticket that you cannot return if you change your mind about flying. But it costs less.

How do I know if my rate is non-refundable?

Types and conditions of non-refundable fares for different airlines

When can you get a refund for non-refundable tickets?

Where to go to get a refund on a non-refundable ticket

Comparison of benefits and risks of refundable and non-refundable tariffs using examples

In what cases is it profitable to buy non-refundable tickets, and in what cases is it not?

How do I find out whether my rate is refundable or non-refundable?

Please check the booking conditions before purchasing your flight ticket.

Find cheap flights on Skyscanner.
Go to the airline or travel agency website.
Study the “Rate Conditions” or “Booking Rules”.

Aeroflot ticket return and exchange rules. Economy class "Budget" and "Promo" fares are completely non-refundable. A ticket at the Optimum fare can be returned with a fine.

If the ticket is non-refundable, you will see this in the fare rules in Russian or English. Look for something like:

NO REFUND OF CARRIAGE FEE IS PROHIBITED.
RETURNS ARE ALLOWED WITH DETAILS OF A FEE.
WHEN CANCELLATION THE TICKET PRICE IS NON-REFUNDABLE.
CHANGES NOT PERMITTED - any changes are prohibited.
TICKET IS NON-REFUNDABLE / NO-SHOW - the ticket is not refundable.
REFUNDABLE CHARGE 50 EURO - penalty for returning 50 euros.
CHANGES AT ANY TIME CHARGE EUR 25 - any changes are made for a fee of 25 euros.
YR/YQ TAX IS NON REFUNDABLE ONLY IN CASE OF A NON-REFUNDABLE FARE - YR/YQ fees and taxes are not refundable only if the fare is non-refundable.

The price of an air ticket consists of the tariff - the cost of the flight, as well as airport, service, insurance, fuel surcharges and taxes. If you cancel a non-refundable ticket, you will not be refunded the fare price. Sometimes fees and taxes (YQ/YR Surcharges) are also non-refundable.

Nordwind

Exchange

The terms of exchange depend on the fare of the ticket - you can see it in the itinerary receipt that was sent to you by mail after booking.

On the Light fare, exchanges not before or after departure are impossible.
The “Optimum” tariff allows you to return a ticket more than 24 hours before departure by paying a fee of 2000 rubles / 25 euros. And 5,000 rubles / 60 euros if the exchange is less than 24 before departure. After departure, the exchange costs 6,000 rubles.
On the Premium fare, exchanges can be made free of charge more than 24 hours before departure. But if there are less than 24 days left before departure, you will have to pay 5,000 rubles / 60 euros. After departure - 6,000 rubles / 75 euros.

Current rules on the airline's page.

Return of Nordwind tickets

The refund conditions depend on the ticket fare - you can see it in the itinerary receipt that was sent to your email after booking.

On “Light” and “Optimum” fares, refunds are not possible either before or after departure.
On the Premium fare, you can return your ticket voluntarily. If you apply more than 24 hours before departure, the fee will be 2,000 rubles.

But if there are less than 24 days left before departure, you will have to pay 5,000 rubles. After departure - 6,000 rubles.

Current rules on the airline's page.

What are non-refundable tickets?

Cheap air tickets without the possibility of return or exchange are offered by most airlines and other low-cost airlines; almost all air tickets are non-refundable. Foreign carriers usually do not allow returns of tickets sold as part of promotions and sales. Moreover, each airline has its own prices, rules and names of tariffs and promotional offers. Look at the names and differences between non-refundable tickets for major airlines that fly from Russia and within our country.

What does the price of an air ticket consist of?

The air ticket price consists of the fare and taxes.

A fare is the cost of an airline's services.

Fees are the total costs of transporting you by plane:

fuel

costs of servicing passengers (both at the stage of purchasing an air ticket and at the airport) and the aircraft (repairing the airliner at the airport between flights)

leasing and repair of airliners, airline employee salaries, marketing, in-flight navigation, etc.

For non-refundable fares, airlines only refund fees, but some will not refund them either. Everyone's conditions are different.

Conditions of non-refundable fares of different airlines

Airline and fareFree luggageNutritionAeroflot: BUDGET and PROMO. Making changes before departure is allowed with an additional charge: 1 piece of baggage up to 23 kg and up to 158 cm in the sum of three dimensions in the luggage compartment + 1 piece up to 10 kg in the cabin. Snacks and drinks or hot meals are included S7 Airlines: Economy Basic. Changes before departure are allowed with an additional chargeOnly 1 piece weighing up to 10 kg and measuring 55x40x20 cm in the cabin Includes snacks and drinks or hot meals UTair: “Minimum”. Making changes before departure is allowed with an additional chargeOnly 1 piece weighing up to 5 kg and measuring 40x30x20 cm in the cabin On flights shorter than 4 hours - only for a fee "Ural Airlines": Promo. Making changes before departure is allowed with an additional charge: 1 piece of baggage up to 10 kg + 1 piece of hand luggage up to 5 kg. Includes soft drinks and standard in-flight meals "Pobeda": "Standard". Changes before departure are prohibited. Only hand luggage up to 36x30x27 cm with no weight restrictions. No meals or hot drinks. Air France: Standard. Making changes before departure is allowed with an additional charge: 1 piece of baggage up to 23 kg + 1 piece of hand luggage and 1 accessory with a total weight of up to 12 kg Drinks and meals included Nordwind: Promo. Changes before departure are permitted with an additional charge. Only hand luggage measuring up to 55x40x20 cm and weighing 5 kg. Drinks and snacks or hot meals are included. Turkish Airlines: Economy promotional fare. Changes prior to departure are not permitted on flights within Turkey and vary by route and date on international flights. 1 piece of baggage up to 15 kg on domestic flights (up to 20 kg on international flights) Drinks, sandwiches and desserts included. The choice of dishes depends on the duration of the flight. Belavia: Special offer. Making changes before departure is prohibited 1 piece of luggage up to 20 kg in the luggage compartment + 1 piece of luggage up to 8 kg in the cabin Standard in-flight meals included Alitalia: Light. Changes prior to departure are not permitted on flights to and from Paris. On routes within Italy and on flights to/from Amsterdam, it is allowed for an additional feeOnly 1 piece of hand luggage up to 8 kg and 55x35x25 cm Drinks and snacks are included on international flights airBaltic: Basic. Making changes before departure is prohibited unless payment was made at the time of booking. Only 1 bag up to 8 kg and 55x40x20 cm + 1 personal item measuring no more than 30x40x10 cm - all in the cabin. Only for a fee on board or by pre-order "Nordstar": Promo. Changes before departure are prohibited 1 piece of baggage up to 20 kg (up to 15 kg on flights to/from Sanya) in the luggage compartment + 1 piece of hand luggage up to 5 kg Standard in-flight meals includedLufthansa: Economy Light. No changes prior to departure Only 1 piece of hand luggage up to 8 kg Light snacks and drinks included Aegean Airlines: GoLight. Changes before departure are allowed with an additional chargeOnly 1 piece of hand luggage up to 8 kgInflight meals included on international flights

In what cases will it be possible to return NB to trains?

There are a number of exceptions in which NB can be returned to the cashier and get your money back. This is possible if:

Health problems (accident). In such circumstances, the travel document of the passenger and his immediate family who were supposed to travel with him may be returned upon presentation of the relevant documents.
The passenger cannot travel due to the death of a relative. The circumstance is also documented.
The flight was rescheduled or cancelled.
Russian Railways cannot provide the passenger with the seat he purchased. This happens very rarely and happens because the company tries its best to fill all the seats on the train, selling one seat several times.

Such exceptions were introduced for the convenience of passengers, because according to statistics, 12% are unable to make a trip because circumstances have changed.

Watch the video on how to return Russian Railways tickets.

When can you get a refund for non-refundable tickets?

The law specifies situations when money for a non-refundable ticket can still be returned. In the event of force majeure, they will return the entire cost, and if you are at fault, try to return at least the fees.

The full cost of a non-refundable fare will be returned to you if the airline does not fulfill its obligations or if you experience a personal force majeure related to illness or death in the family. You must inform the carrier about the forced return of the ticket before the end of check-in for the flight and with the necessary documents in hand.