Discounts and benefits on the purchase of air tickets for pensioners

Benefits for pensioners when purchasing air tickets

The program to support socially vulnerable segments of the population provides benefits for air travel. The project, as amended, was approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 215 of March 2, 2019. The goal is to increase the interest of retirees in flying. There are several types of benefit programs:

1. State program (subsidized air tickets for pensioners, disabled people and students under 23 years of age). Women over 55 years old can take part, men over 60 years old. The discount varies from 10 to 50%. The list of airlines operating under the program is limited (you can purchase tickets for Aeroflot, Ural Airlines, Yakutia, Siberia, etc. at a discount).
2. Alternative ticket. You can buy cheap air tickets from low-cost airline companies. Their prices are more favorable than plane tickets for pensioners with a discount under the government program. However, there is one drawback: citizens are deprived of the opportunity to use additional services free of charge (luggage transportation, meals).
3. Discount airline tickets. Many companies offer discount coupons to citizens during the holidays or vacation season. You can find out more about them from airline employees or on the official website. The discount ranges from 10 to 30%.

Who can claim benefits

The program for subsidizing air tickets started in 2009, the latest changes were made in 2020 by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 03/02/18. The provision is carried out at the expense of the federal budget. The preferential category of citizens has the right to receive a discount of up to 50%. These include:

• persons who have reached retirement age (women – 55 years, men – 60 years);
• disabled people of group 1 and accompanying persons;
• disabled people of groups 2 and 3 with limited physical abilities.

The subsidy can be received after providing supporting documents (pension card, passport). The program can be used by people living in remote regions of the country. For 2019, 33 constituent entities of the Russian Federation participating in the project have been identified (Far East, Siberia, Magadan, Chukotka Territory, etc.).

Destinations and airlines selling subsidized air tickets

The start of sales of subsidized air tickets is scheduled for early March 2020. As a rule, the discount is valid from April to mid-October. Bonuses, cashbacks and miles are not awarded for subsidized tickets. Preferential tariffs are implemented in the following areas:

1. Far East;
2. Crimea and Simferopol;
3. Privolzhsky District, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug and Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug;
4. Kaliningrad region.

In 2020, funding for the state program increased by 700 million rubles. This means that pensioners and beneficiaries will be able to get 20% more discounted air tickets than last year. According to the Ministry of Transport, a large share of budget funds will be allocated in favor of Far Eastern cities. From 2009 to 2020, the number of destinations in the Far East increased to 73, the total number of destinations in Russia will be 100.

Discount air tickets for pensioners in 2020 are offered by such airlines as: Aeroflot, Ural Airlines, ALROSA, Azimut, Rossiya, Aurora, Transaero, Yakutia, S7, Utair, NordStar Airlines, Red Wings, Izhavia and others. Each airline operates flights to certain destinations.

The above companies provide subsidized tickets under an agreement with the Federal Air Transport Agency. Part of the cost of the air ticket is covered from the federal budget. Airlines are not required to provide discounts, but are forced to do so to increase sales and cabin occupancy.

Airline specials

Many airlines regularly hold promotions on flights and sell tickets for a certain category of people. Their goal is to advertise their own services, increase sales, and increase demand. Discounts can be taken advantage of by:

• pensioners;
• disabled people;
• WWII participants;
• children of war.

In 2019-2020, more than 20 air carriers are holding promotions, including:

1. Aeroflot.
2. Yakutia.
3. Transaero.
4. Ural Airlines.
5. Komiavitrans.
6. S7 Airlines.
7. KrasAvia.
8. Aurora.
9. Saratov Airlines.
10. Aeroflot.
11. Angara.
12. Alrosa.
13. Red Wings.
14. Aeroservice.
15. Azimuth.
16. Izhavia.
17. UTair.
18. NordAvia.
19. UVT Aero.
20. Khabarovsk Airlines.
21. AK RusLine.
22. Icarus (Pegas Fly).

Amount of discount

The fare is reduced for a particular flight during certain periods (holidays, vacation season). Discounts on air travel range from 10 to 30%. Sometimes it is more profitable to purchase a ticket on an air carrier's promotion than to take advantage of government support. The price depends on the distance to the destination, the demand for the flight, and the departure date.

You can find out about promotions from representatives or on the company’s official website. For example, it provides pensioners with a discount of up to 50%. During the May holidays, WWII veterans can attend completely free of charge. In addition, a veteran who takes advantage of this offer receives a certificate for another free flight.

• Documents for inheritance after death: procedure for registration with a notary
• Who will have their pensions increased from August 1?
• Plantain - medicinal properties and contraindications

Reducing the cost of purchasing tickets does not imply a change in tariff. The preferential category of citizens receives a full list of services and an appropriate level of service, but at a reduced cost. Offers generally apply to economy class tickets. However, there is no opportunity to change the date of the flight on a discounted air ticket. If a ticket must be returned, the customer will receive a minimum refund amount.

What services are not included in the discount ticket price?

As a rule, air carriers offer discounts from 10 to 30% to beneficiaries. The amount of the benefit is set by each air carrier independently, taking into account the season, destination and flight. The reduced cost does not affect the tariff. The pensioner is treated in the same way as other economy class passengers.

The discount applies only to the actual portion of the ticket price. Therefore, if a pensioner requires additional services, he will have to pay for them separately. Services that are not included in the discount ticket include:

1. luggage storage - paid separately for the full price (pensioners can carry hand luggage for free);
2. food – provided separately for a fee;
3. ticket exchange is not available, with the exception of cases established by the airline.

It is recommended to study the rules for returning, extending and carrying baggage in advance. Subsidized tickets have stricter requirements. For example, it will be impossible to change the date of the flight, and upon return you will have to pay compensation.

Subsidized plane tickets

The program for providing benefits for flights to socially vulnerable segments of the population allows them to purchase air tickets cheaply. The program is valid only for flights within Russia. Subsidized tickets are the price of a ticket reduced by a set percentage, which can only be purchased by beneficiaries. Discounts range from 10 to 50%, the remaining cost is covered by the federal budget.

Who can benefit from the subsidy:

• pensioners;
• disabled people of group 1, disabled children and their accompanying persons;
• disabled people of groups 2 and 3;
• WWII participants;
• schoolchildren and students under 23 years of age.

Which airlines are participating in the state program?

Subsidies for air travel have been in effect since 2009. By 2019, the list of companies participating in the state program expanded. The list of air transport organizations participating in the project is:

• "Ural Airlines";
• Aeroflot;
• "Transaero";
• "Yakutia";
• "Grozny Airlines";
• "Siberia";
• "Vim-Avia";
• "Alrosa";
• "AkBarsAero" and others.

Cheap flight destinations

Subsidized tickets are sold only in the Russian Federation. In 2019, the program provides flights to 100 destinations. Discounts on air tickets are often offered for Far Easterners and residents of the Far North. The project pursues the following goals:

• increasing accessibility to constituent entities of the Russian Federation where there is no alternative means of transportation to flying;
• increasing the availability of flights to domestic resorts in the Krasnodar Territory and to Simferopol (May – September);
• increase the tourist flow in the off-season period (April - May, October - November).

The number of routes, costs and list of destinations are subject to change every year. Full information about the subsidy, terms and directions can be found on the official website of the airlines, by phone or in person. For example, in 2020, travel on the Kaliningrad-Moscow route in both directions costs pensioners 3,000 rubles.

Air transport organizations offer subsidized flights to the following destinations:

• Blagoveshchensk;
• Kamchatka;
• Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky;
• Saint Petersburg;
• Moscow;
• Arkhangelsk;
• Vladivostok;
• Krasnodar;
• Krasnoyarsk;
• Sochi;
• Chita.

• 4 new government support measures
• Toys for cats - how to choose based on functionality, quality and cost
• Coronavirus: what happens next

Aeroflot promotional tickets for pensioners

Aeroflot regularly holds sales of air tickets, arranges promotions and provides discounts for customers. Tickets at reduced rates can be purchased to all destinations, including abroad.

The promotions apply only to the “economy” category.

On the eve of the holidays, Aeroflot offers lucrative offers when you can purchase air tickets with a discount of 50 percent or more.

The campaign to sell free travel documents for prisoners of fascism, disabled people and participants of the Great Patriotic War has become an annual event. On the eve of Victory Day (dates from May 3 to May 12), they can take a free flight to anywhere in Russia in economy class. Heroes of the USSR and full holders of the Order of Glory are similarly served in comfort and business classes.

• Favorable MTS tariffs for pensioners - tariff plans and prices
• Additional payment to pension for minor children in 2020
• Working pensioners' sick leave will be extended again

Additionally, each participant in the Aeroflot promotion can issue a ticket with a 100% discount for the person accompanying him. The special offer also applies to citizens living in the CIS countries, the Baltic states and Georgia. Free tickets cannot be ordered online on the official website on the Internet. They are available for sale only offline – at sales counters. You can leave a request by calling the hotline.

Who is eligible for benefits?

Regular discounts at Aeroflot are provided only on subsidized tickets, but in some cases older people can receive compensation equal to the cost of an economy travel document. Pensioners can take advantage of the benefit:

• Living in the Far North and similar territories. Opportunity is provided twice a year to travel to and from your holiday destination.
• From among federal beneficiaries - for travel to and from the place of treatment, if they have not formalized a waiver of a set of social services.

To apply for compensation, you must contact the social security authorities at your place of residence. The pensioner will be required to fill out an application and present a ticket plus a document confirming the benefit. This can be done both before and after the trip.

Limitations of services provided

Senior citizens are only allowed to travel within the country at subsidized rates.

When purchasing a discounted air ticket, they pay only the cost of the flight – without commissions, taxes or fuel surcharges.

During travel, the same restrictions apply as when serving other passengers flying in economy class:

• Free baggage allowance. Hand luggage – up to 10 kg, checked baggage – no more than 23 kg.
• Non-refundable rate. In case of cancellation of the trip, the cost of the ticket is not refundable.
• Services such as seat selection, priority boarding, and access to luxury lounges at airports do not apply to pensioners.

Alternative flights from low-cost airlines

On the aviation market, many companies offer cheap tickets to pensioners and others. The discount system does not apply in this case. The cost is reduced due to the lack of additional services and comfort. The price may be 10-30% lower than the original price. Low-cost airlines offer clients flights both within the Russian Federation and abroad.

Disadvantages of cheap flights using an alternative ticket:

• There is a separate fee for transporting luggage;
• no free lunches;
• it is not possible to change a ticket for another departure date;
• when returning the ticket, the low-cost airline will pay a minimum percentage of the cost;
• seat selection for an additional fee;
• paid check-in at the airport.

What is an alternative ticket

An alternative ticket means a flight with low-cost airlines. These organizations allow you to buy air tickets at a significant discount, but you will have to pay for this in comfortable flight conditions and the lack of a number of services, including:

1. Inability to choose your own seat on board.
2. Lack of power.
3. Baggage transportation is paid separately (the air ticket price includes only hand luggage, to which a large number of restrictions apply).

A distinctive feature of traveling with such airlines is the possibility of obtaining additional services that are included in the standard service on other aircraft, for an additional fee.

How to buy social plane tickets for pensioners

The purchase of subsidized air tickets for pensioners under the state program occurs in the following sequence:

1. Selecting an airline that takes part in the state program.
2. Contacting the company’s employees and getting acquainted with the proposals that are eligible for subsidies.
3. Confirmation of membership in a preferential category (present a pensioner or disabled person’s ID).
4. At this stage the client can order tickets.
5. Payment of part of the cost (from 90 to 50%).

You can use the discount from the airline in the following way:

1. Find out on the Internet which airlines offer discounts on flights.
2. Branch employees will tell you more about promotions and offers. It is possible to ask the necessary questions online.
3. Having made a choice, the pensioner needs to book a ticket. This can be done by contacting the company directly or online.
4. When paying a partial cost of a ticket, you must present documents confirming your membership in a preferential category.

Where can I buy

It is worth purchasing a discount ticket in advance. Promotional offers are limited. Having learned about discounts and decided on the choice of date and destination, you need to start paying for the flight. Where to buy tickets:

1. At airline ticket offices. In the modern world, online ticket offices are very popular. They provide reliable information about the availability of seats and the number of tickets available for sale. By specifying the airline, origin and destination, you can apply for a reservation. Payment is made by bank card.
2. From intermediaries. A convenient way to purchase, but risky. The agent may be a fraud. Before the transaction, pensioners should ask the representative for an identification, license and agreement with the airline.
3. On the official website of the company (with the exception of flights to Crimea). Online, interested parties can obtain complete information about the schedule, flight directions and discounts provided by the company. Call center operators work around the clock. Payment is made after ordering a ticket through the payer's bank card.

It is possible to book air tickets by phone if the client does not feel comfortable paying immediately. For preferential travel documents, the maximum reservation period is from 36 to 72 hours; they can only be redeemed offline.

Documents for registration

To receive a discounted ticket, a pensioner will need the following documents:

• passport;
• ID card of a pensioner or disabled person.

There is such a type of coupon air ticket as Automated Ticket (ATV). It contains 4 flight coupons, each with a magnetic stripe containing flight information. It is used for automatic check-in at the airport. The right side is a tear-off coupon with information about the location and exit number. The passenger retains a separate coupon. Such tickets are used only by foreign airlines.

Returns and exchanges

For discounted air tickets, there are restrictions on the rules of return and exchange. If returned, the company will not refund all money paid. The client will receive only a small percentage of the cost, and the exchange may cost more than buying a new discount ticket.

Each air transport organization considers the terms of exchange and return individually. If the reason for the exchange was a sudden illness and long-term treatment, the airline representative may request a certificate from the hospital. Whether a fine or penalty (commission) will be imposed in this case depends on the internal policy of the airline.

Conditions

Although there are acceptable subsidized offers for air travel, there are a number of restrictions. Firstly, not all airlines provide the right to take advantage of such a promotion. Secondly, there is a specific and exhaustive list of regions to which benefits apply when traveling.

Seats that are eligible for discounts when paying for air tickets, in accordance with Government Decree No. 1242:

1. Volga Federal District.
2. Far Eastern region.
3. Kaliningrad region.

For all of the above regions, the promotion is offered by the following limited number of airlines:

1. Aeroflot.
2. Transaero.
3. S7 Airlines.
4. Yakutia.
5. Ural Airlines.
6. VIM Avia.
7. UTair.

An innovation in the discount flight program is a new region to which the privileges apply. The Crimean Peninsula has been one of the most popular resorts among Russians over the past few years. The flight period varies from May 15 to November 30.

The following airlines provide subsidies for this territory:

• Red Wings;
• "Icarus";
• "Yamal";
• ALROSA;
• "Ural Airlines";
• "Orenburg Airlines";
• Severstal
• "Grozny Avia";
• "Izhavia";
• "Saratov Airlines".

The list of cities from which flights to Crimea are made, as well as the approximate cost, are presented in this document.

The third limitation associated with providing privileges to pensioners is the time limits for travel. You can take discounted air travel from May 15 to October 15. Therefore, it is recommended to book tickets in advance.

Important! Subsidies are issued only for the actual cost of the air ticket. Additional services at the airport and on the plane are available only for a fee.

Among them:

1. Luggage is not included in the discount price. The only allowance is hand luggage.
2. Meals are also not offered on the plane.
3. It is not possible to exchange a ticket. However, each airline sets its own rules.
4. The flight is carried out only in economy class.
5. It is possible to return the ticket, but the money paid will not be returned to the tourist.

State benefits

The program has been operating at the state level for almost ten years. According to the rules, residents of the Far East receive a permanent discount of 50%, provided that the woman is 55 years old and the man is 60. But you can use the services of air carriers at this rate only from April to October.

Khabarovskresort.rf

So far, only 33 cities and 13 airlines are participating in this program. The destinations for which you can choose a ticket are also limited. Usually these are any flights within the region or to Moscow, Sochi, Pevek, Kaliningrad, St. Petersburg, Tiksi. To take advantage of this offer, you need to prove not only your belonging to the pension group of the population, but also the corresponding registration.