Travel plans change unexpectedly, which may stick you at the airport with an airline ticket you can no longer use. The tickets that you buy from the airline websites or through travel agencies are known as non-refundable tickets. It is so because these are significantly cheaper than refundable tickets. As according to the policies, you will not be able to turn a non-refundable airline ticket in full refund, but you there are some chances to derive some value in the form of future travel plans by returning tickets on flights to India.
- Check Fare Class – Refundable Or Non Refundable
First of all just check the fare class on your ticket, which you should be able to find on your itinerary or receipt and generally is indicated by a single letter. If you’re flying economy class, Y and B classes are full-fare economy classes, which means your ticket is refundable. Other letters indicate discount economy classes, which comes under the non-refundable airline tickets.
- Know Airline’s Refund Policy
If you get a refundable airline ticket, then check your airline’s refund policy on its website or by calling its reservations center. In most cases, if you paid by credit card, then you can return your ticket via the website, but you might need to do it over the phone or at the ticket office. But, this will depend on the circumstances. There is another option that you can also exchange your ticket for an equitable flight without a fee. So, monitor your credit card account to be sure the refund is posted within a few weeks.
- Know Ticket Exchange Refund Policy
Read your airline’s policy on ticket exchanges. In most cases, you won’t be able to get a direct refund, but you might be able to procure a voucher for use in future flights. Each airline has their own policies, but most major airlines let you return your ticket in exchange for another ticket. If your new ticket is more expensive than your first ticket, then you will have to pay an exchange fee as well as the difference in ticket cost. But, you will not be refunded if the ticket is less expensive. If you don’t have immediate travel plans, then most airlines let the fare, minus fees, be applied to travel within a year. But as the original ticket, you might be able to use the voucher to the same destination. This will depend on the airlines. Exchange restrictions are much tighter on international flights than domestic flights.
- Refund/Exchange Policies In Emergency Cases
Ask your airline representative or check your airline’s website about refund/exchange policies related to emergency situations. For some reasons like an illness or family death, you want to change travel plans, then the airline might have more lax rules on exchanges. But, you need to provide the documentation to prove the emergency situations. So, get travel insurance, which is offered by certain credit cards and travel agencies. It helps you to ensure that you get a full refund that you need to change a ticket.
- 24-Hour Cancellation Policies
You have to cancel your original ticket as far in advance of your travel date as possible. Many airlines have restrictions as to how soon before a flight, often 24 hours, you are able to return a ticket for refund or voucher. Your ticket probably will lose all value, if you don’t show up on the day of your flight.
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