Russia may set a minimum amount of compensation for air ticket refunds

Russia wants to establish a minimum amount of compensation for the return of air tickets. As Izvestia found out, this request was addressed to the head of the Ministry of Transport Roman Starovoit by the first deputy chairman of the State Duma Committee on Education, Yana Lantratova.

In the document she reports on a number of problems faced by Russians when traveling by air. One of them is the absence of a mechanism of fair compensation to passengers when returning airline tickets. According to the deputy, this deprives them of the right to reimbursement, even if the air carrier subsequently sells these tickets to other customers, except for passengers with privileges.

"It seems possible to introduce a mechanism whereby when a passenger returns a ticket, the full cost is refunded if the ticket was resold by the airline to another customer. Also, the full cost can be refunded if the return of the ticket is made within a period of at least two weeks before the day of departure. If the return of the ticket is made later and the ticket remains unrealized, the passenger has the right to receive privileges, according to the loyalty program of the airline for the amount of 25% of the ticket price", - offers Yana Lantratova.

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In January, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed to ensure that airlines provide discounts of 50% on air tickets for children under 12 years old. It was specified that it concerns flights both on domestic and international lines. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin was appointed responsible for the execution of this order.

Before that, the order of the Ministry of Transport on a 50% discount on children's air tickets of Russian carriers came into force. In this case, children under two years old flying without a separate seat will be able to provide a free flight on domestic flights and a discount of at least 90% on international flights. In addition, airlines must allow children under 12 years of age to sit next to their parents in the airplane free of charge.