How much money can be refunded for air tickets? Full analysis of the latest refund policy
Recently, with the end of the summer travel season and the beginning of the school year approaching, the demand for air ticket cancellations and changes has surged. Many travelers are concerned about how much refunds they can get for air tickets and what the refund policies of different airlines are. This article combines hot topics on the Internet in the past 10 days to provide you with a detailed analysis of the latest refund rules in 2023.
1. Refund handling fee standards for mainstream domestic airlines
| airline | More than 7 days before departure | 2-7 days before departure | 48 hours before departure | 24 hours before departure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air China | 10% | 20% | 40% | 50% |
| China Southern Airlines | 10% | 25% | 45% | 60% |
| China Eastern Airlines | 15% | 30% | 50% | 70% |
| Hainan Airlines | 5% | 15% | 30% | 50% |
2. Refund policy under special circumstances
1.Flight changes: If the flight is canceled/delayed for more than 3 hours due to airline reasons, a full refund will be issued.
2.Cause of the epidemic: Some areas still retain special refund and refund policies due to the epidemic. If a nucleic acid test positive certificate is provided, refunds will be free of charge.
3.student ticket: During the school season, some airlines provide additional refund discounts for student groups, with handling fees reduced by 20%-30%.
| special circumstances | Proof material | Refund ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Retired from illness | Hospital diagnosis certificate | Up to 90% refund available |
| Military disability | Valid ID | Full refund |
| natural disaster | Official warning document | No handling fee |
3. Differences in international air ticket refund rules
The refund policy for international routes is more complicated and mainly depends on:
1. Route distance (short-haul/intercontinental)
2. Ticket type (economy class/business class)
3. Ticket purchase channels (official website/agent)
| airline | Economy class refund fee | Business class refund fee |
|---|---|---|
| Lufthansa | From €100 | From €200 |
| Emirates Airlines | Starting from $150 | Starting from $300 |
| singapore airlines | Starting from S$120 | Starting from S$250 |
4. Tips to save money by refunding tickets
1.Pay attention to airline promotions: Some airlines regularly launch "worry-free refunds, changes" products, such as China Eastern Airlines' "flexible travel" package.
2.Buy travel insurance: Insurance products including itinerary change insurance can compensate for refund losses, and the premium is usually 3%-5% of the ticket price.
3.Change ticket instead of refund: The change fee is usually 30%-50% lower than the refund fee, which is suitable for passengers who want to adjust their itinerary.
4.Take advantage of membership benefits: Airlines Gold/Platinum Card members can enjoy higher refund limits.
5. New changes in refunds in 2023
1. Electronic invoices are fully implemented, and the time for refunds to be received is shortened from 7-15 working days to 3-7 days.
2. Some OTA platforms have launched the "real-time query of refund progress" function.
3. The Civil Aviation Administration of China’s new regulations require that refunded tickets must be returned via the original route, and agents are prohibited from deducting payments.
4. Intelligent customer service systems have been popularized, and the response speed of 7×24 refund services has been improved.
It is recommended that passengers carefully read the refund and change rules when purchasing tickets before refunding. The refund policies for different cabin classes and discount tickets may be quite different. In case of disputes, you can call the Civil Aviation Administration complaint hotline 12326 for help.
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