Missed your flight: how to get your money back

The passenger was late for check-in, but the airliner had not yet taken off

Passengers who were delayed on the road (traffic jams, transport breakdown, accident, etc.), overslept or mixed up the departure time are often late for check-in. If you arrive at the airport no later than 20 minutes before departure, you can try to catch your flight.

You should contact a company employee and ask for help in resolving the issue, and he will explain what to do. You can find a counter where latecomers are registered. This service often costs a lot, but for many passengers this is the best option.

It is possible to exchange a ticket for the next flight. The company may fine the passenger for this, but, as a rule, the amount of the fine is less than the cost of the ticket.

Exchange is available only to ticket holders whose tariff allows this. You must familiarize yourself with the tariff details in advance on the carrier’s website or by phone.

There are usually no problems with exchanging tickets for first and business class. But travel documents of Economy, Promo, etc. class are unlikely to be exchanged. If the purchased ticket involves a transfer, then if you are late, the second flight will be cancelled.

It's not for nothing that airlines begin check-in several hours before boarding. This reduces the crowding of people in line and allows each passenger to check in calmly.

For example, check-in begins two hours and ends 40 minutes before departure. On international flights there is even more time to complete all procedures.

If a passenger is not confident in the reliability of his transport, in the absence of traffic jams and other obstacles on the way to the airport, then it is better to leave a few hours before check-in begins.

What can be done on the spot

If, after a long security check, you run up to the boarding gate, and they do not let you in and inform you that the airliner has already taken off, it is better not to give up, but to take the following measures.

First of all, make sure that there is no plane at the other end of the sleeve. If it is still there, try to convince the airport employee to open the doors and let you on board. If this is no longer possible, then contact a representative of the same airline (at the airport counter or by phone) and discuss the possibility of boarding the next flight. In aviation, it is customary to work with people individually, so in any case, your problem will be dealt with and the optimal solution will be offered. You also need to find out where your luggage is and pick it up.

Late boarding

It happens that passengers, after checking in, manage to miss boarding. This usually happens because the passenger:

I checked in online and just took my time getting to the airport, confident that I would get everything done in a matter of minutes.
Get lost at the airport, especially if it’s your first time there (read the link about what to do at the airport if you’re flying for the first time).
The inspection of luggage and hand luggage took a long time, because items that were not allowed for transportation were discovered.
I mixed up the terminals.
I stayed in a cafe or stopped in a store at the airport.
Lost documents or other personal items, etc.

On almost all airlines, boarding ends 20–30 minutes before departure. If a late passenger arrives after this time, you can contact an airline employee. Sometimes it helps you quickly get to the plane.

If this does not happen, then you need to either exchange the ticket for the next flight, or try to get a refund for it.

Important! Airlines do not agree to delay departure even for a few minutes for the sake of a late passenger, since delaying the departure will cost the carrier large fines. And this is dangerous for the flight: there is a risk of colliding with another airliner in the air: in aviation, everything is calculated in seconds.

You can find out about the start and end times of check-in for a plane in the article on our website.

How can I get my money back for a ticket if I miss my plane?

The procedure for domestic and international air transportation of passengers and baggage is established by the General Rules for the air transportation of passengers, baggage, cargo and requirements for servicing passengers, shippers, consignees, approved. By Order of the Ministry of Transport of Russia dated June 28, 2007 N 82 (hereinafter referred to as the Rules).

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The passenger must arrive at the place of check-in and baggage check-in no later than the time set by the carrier. This is necessary to pass technical control and all pre-flight procedures provided for by the legislation of the Russian Federation.

Missing a connecting flight due to the fault of the company

If a person purchased a ticket with a transfer, but the first flight was delayed by the carrier, they must call the airline and report the problem. If two flights have different carriers, then you must put a note on the ticket about the flight delay. In this case, the company through whose fault the flight was delayed will compensate for the damage.

The passenger has the right to the following:

Conditions that must be met if the flight is delayed due to the fault of the company

Ticket exchange without commissions or fines.
Free mobile/landline communication to communicate with loved ones.
Free hotel accommodation if the flight is delayed by more than eight hours.
Free nutritious meals (coupons are issued by a company employee).

Missing a connecting flight

If the flight involves a transfer, but two tickets were purchased (and not one common), then if the first flight is delayed and it is impossible to take off, the second passenger will not be able to receive money for the second flight that did not take place. Your ticket will be automatically canceled if you are late.

How to get your money back

If, according to the carrier’s rules, the cost of the flight must be refunded, it is better to clarify when purchasing a ticket how to get the money back if you are late for the flight. If such a situation arises, you should contact the airline's support service as soon as possible.

To return the cost of a ticket or part of it, write an application, indicate the number of the flight, ticket, reservation, dates of departure and arrival at the final destination, and attach a copy or scan of your passport. If the ticket was purchased online, you can view the application form on the website of the airline or travel agency through which the ticket was purchased.

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Funds for the travel document will first be transferred to the travel agency through which it was purchased, and after that the travel company will either transfer it to the passenger’s account or issue it in cash.

Missing a flight in another country

This situation can arise, as a rule, when applying for a visa for a purchased tour to another country. No one can guarantee that the money spent will be returned. To be on the safe side, it is recommended to take an extract from your embassy confirming the refusal to issue a visa.

If a person flying with a passenger falls ill, the airline provides preferential check-in for another flight of the same class. If the passenger himself is ill, no refund benefits are provided.

When flying to another state where a visa is required, the carrier will not check in a passenger for a flight who has been denied this document.

You are late for check-in, but the plane has not yet departed

If you are already at the airport, but check-in for your flight has just closed, please contact the check-in counter for late passengers.

This procedure will already cost money, from 2 to 5 thousand rubles, if you have an economy class ticket. For business – free.

There is an option to persuade an airline employee to take you on board privately while the plane has not yet taken off. But this rarely works, and certainly not at large airports or when you are flying low-cost airlines.

In what cases, if you are late, can you guarantee a refund?

Most passengers believe that it is almost impossible to return the full cost of the ticket or most of the money spent. This applies to those tickets that have Economy, Promo and other inexpensive fares.

Many people prefer to save on flights by purchasing travel documents on low-cost airlines. In such cases, actually returning the entire amount is much more difficult and often impossible, since these tickets are classified as non-refundable.

Refundable tickets are sold for most flights, but their cost is noticeably higher. Having such a ticket, you don’t have to worry about non-refundable funds in unforeseen circumstances.

The ticket price is guaranteed to be refunded, regardless of its fare, in the following cases:

The cancellation or rescheduling of the flight was due to the fault of the seller.
The flight was delayed for several hours.
Emergency incidents are not the fault of the passenger.
The airliner model has changed.
The passenger has a proven valid reason why the flight cannot be carried out (illness, death of loved ones or illness of the ticket holder himself).

When is the best time to come to the airport?

You must arrive at the airport at least two hours before departure if traveling domestically. If this is an international flight, you must arrive at the airport at least three hours before departure. Knowing that problems may arise with checking documents, with luggage, etc., the passenger needs to arrive at the place even earlier.

Check-in at the airport for such airlines as S7, Ural Airlines, Aeroflot, Utair ends 40 minutes before the airliner’s departure.

Online check-in ends as follows:

Comparison of check-in deadlines for different carriers

Victory - in 40 minutes.
Aeroflot - in 45 minutes.
S7 - in 45 minutes.
Utair - in 45 minutes.
NordStar - in one hour.
American Airlines - in 45 minutes.
KLM - in one hour.

Boarding usually stops 20–30 minutes before departure.

For more information about the beginning and end of boarding an airplane, please follow the link.

How long in advance do you need to arrive at the airport?

You need to arrive at the airport 2 hours before departure. During this time, the passenger must have time to register.

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Lawyer with 8 years of experience. Specializes in criminal law. Law teacher.

This includes checking the ticket, obtaining a boarding pass, checking luggage, and sometimes passport control. Registration usually ends 1 hour or 40 minutes before takeoff.

The traveler spends another 30 minutes in the waiting area. Then he boards his airliner and prepares for 20 minutes before takeoff.

At this time, no one is allowed onto the plane, which has not yet taken off. Passengers will not be able to get on the plane if there is no longer a gangway at its entrance.

What to do if you are late for your flight?

Anyone can be late for a plane. No one is immune from unforeseen situations on the eve of departure. The only thing a late person risks is his money. He may be reimbursed for the cost of the ticket or asked to purchase a new travel document.

What are the options for being late:

A person is on the way to the airport and realizes that he will not make it in time for check-in.
The passenger arrived 40 minutes before takeoff.
The man arrived at the airport on time, checked in, but forgot about boarding.
The passenger was late and his plane had already departed.

If you are late for the start of check-in, you need to urgently contact the air carrier or travel agency by phone or online and rebook your ticket.

After all, in case of no-show for your flight, an air passenger may be fined. Those flying in business class have the right to exchange their ticket for the next flight, paying only a commission. There are no such benefits for economy class. Passengers will have to pay a fine, receive a small refund for the unused ticket, or purchase a new ticket at full price.

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How long does the plane wait for latecomers?

If a passenger is late for an airplane flight, he will have to return the ticket, exchange it, or purchase a new pass. Air carriers do not wait for late travelers.

Airliners must take off exactly on schedule, otherwise they will create an emergency situation in the sky. No one will risk the lives of people for the sake of travelers who did not make it on board on time.

It is not recommended to be late for the plane.

What can you do if you are at risk of missing your flight?

Even if the passenger understands that there is a high probability of being late for the plane, you can still try to prevent this trouble.

You can try to catch your flight by checking in online. It’s convenient to do this in the air carrier’s mobile application, but you can also do it on the website. After online registration, a mobile travel document or a regular one will be immediately generated, which all you have to do is print it out.

A mobile travel document is a ticket in electronic format that is suitable for almost any gadget, including smartphones. It is convenient because it will not get lost and does not require printing.

It is enough to show it to the airport employee. A special device reads the QR code and all information about the passenger from it.

Important! If online check-in was successful, but the passenger still does not make it to boarding, then it is better to call the airline and cancel the check-in. This will be a plus for a refund for the ticket.

If it is very likely that you will be late for the plane, then it is better not to take luggage (so as not to waste time checking and checking it in), placing the most important things in hand luggage.

On the way to the airport, you need to find out on the website which terminal the flight is departing from. It is advisable to look at the airport map so that upon arrival you will immediately understand which direction to run.

You should not take prohibited items or items similar to them with you. In any case, the security service will detain the passenger until the circumstances are clarified. There is no need to take containers with liquids larger than 100 ml.

If there is a long line at check-in and security checks, you can ask passengers to skip ahead due to being late. If it doesn’t work out, you should contact the airport employee standing next to you. He will miss out of turn.