"Izvestia" reports on the drafting of revisions towards the legalization of overselling.
Air Code Overhaul Coming for Russia's Airlines?
Here's a sneaky peek at what could be upcoming changes in Russia's air travel landscape. The Ministry of Transport, in cahoots with airlines, is reportedly cookin' up amendments to the Air Code, aiming to make overselling tickets (overbooking) a legit thing.
According to a secret huddle between Ministry of Transport reps and "Izvestia", the bill is still in the works, so specifics are scarce. One thing's for certain though—airlines could legally rebook passengers onto alternative flights or deny boarding due to overbooking.
But don't fret just yet! Passengers with children, disabled folk, military personnel, and those with connecting flights are off-limits for thisvershing, "Izvestia" confirms.
The catch? Passenger rebooking due to overbooking can only happen if the passenger agrees to the new flight. Compensation depends on flight delay hours: 1-2 hours, 2-6 hours, 6-12 hours, and 12-24 hours. According to Aeroflot's Legal Department Director, Anna Khomyakova, if a passenger gets kicked off a flight that departs less than once a day, the compensation is double the ticket price.
Ilya Zotov, Deputy Chairman of the Public Council under the Ministry of Transport and Chairman of the All-Russian Association of Passengers, spilled the beans on proposed compensation rates. Zotov mentioned that passengers could receive 25% to 100% compensation, depending on the delay, with the option of quick, convenient, and automated payments at the airport—fancy!
To put a stop to intentional overbooking, known as artificial overbooking, the proposed bill suggests whacking airlines with penalties if they rebook too many passengers from one flight to another. This penalty can be triggered by exceeding the limit set by the Ministry of Transport.
Stay tuned for more updates on this fresh twist in Russian air travel! Follow our Telegram channel at @expert_mag for all the inside scoop on #Mintrans, #Airlines, and #AirTravel.
- The proposed amendments to Russia's Air Code aim to legalize the practice of overbooking tickets, according to reports.
- If the overbooking amendment comes into effect, airlines could rebook passengers onto alternative flights or deny boarding due to overbooking, but specifics are still under discussion.
- Interestingly, passengers with certain protected statuses such as those with children, disabilities, military personnel, and those with connecting flights are exempt from being affected by overbooking, according to reports.
- To tackle the issue of intentional overbooking, known as artificial overbooking, the proposed bill suggests imposing penalties on airlines that rebook too many passengers from one flight to another, exceeding the limit set by the Ministry of Transport.
