Non-refundable tickets: take a chance or not?

Despite the fact that non-refundable tickets have appeared in Russian Railways, they are not actively popular. Apparently it's about the routes on which they operate, or are there those who are not aware? Therefore, we understand what such tickets give, as well as what are the pros and cons.

Let's start with the fact that non-refundable tickets on the railway appeared relatively recently, namely from January 20, 2019. It is obvious from the name that such a tariff does not provide for getting back the fare when it is returned. That is, when purchasing such a travel document, you need to be sure that you will not change your mind. Otherwise, money will be lost. For regular tickets, a refund is provided if you refuse to travel or are late for trains. This happens in whole or in part, depending on the situation.

Of course, a non-refundable ticket can also be returned.

But the reasons for refusing the trip must be very weighty, which will need to be documented. Such cases include the death of a family member, sudden illness of a passenger or a family member following him or her, and injury to a passenger as a result of an accident. There are also circumstances beyond the control of passengers. Such as cancellation or delay of the train, as well as if a seat on the train is not provided according to the purchased ticket. In other circumstances, the refund is not carried out.

Of course, the main advantage of a non-refundable ticket is its cost. Compared to other tariffs, its price is 5%-20% lower. Applies only to compartment cars and cars with seats. That is why travelers who are confident in the future often prefer to buy non-refundable, both air and rail tickets.

To date, not all trains have similar fares. You can choose a non-refundable ticket for trains traveling from Moscow to Voronezh, Ufa, Severodvinsk, Adler, Samara, Izhevsk, St. Petersburg, Labytnangi, Rostov-on-Don, Vologda. And in the opposite direction. They also meet on the route Novy Urengoy, Kazan, Adler, Rostov-on-Don and the opposite directions. New routes for non-refundable tickets appear almost every month, so when booking, pay attention to the availability of such a fare. It may occur that not all dates of the route or not all cars have the opportunity to purchase a non-refundable ticket.

How to understand which ticket you are purchasing: returnable or not?

If you are purposefully looking for such tickets, then, as a rule, it is immediately indicated that seats are available in this car at a non-refundable fare, or there is a tick with sorting where you can select similar seats at once. And if you haven't seen anything like this, then be sure to pay attention to the "Tariff" field when entering your passport data. If the ticket does not imply a refund, then choose "Full/child non-refundable". Accordingly, the price will be lower when paying, but you can also return the ticket only in emergency cases.

Of course, it is advantageous for JSC "Russian Railways" to promote such tickets, since you can safely count on the fullness of the train. Therefore, in the future, we can expect that such a tariff will appear on trains traveling in international traffic. But passengers make their own choice. For some, a non-refundable fare is a way to save money on a trip, for others, the risk of losing money in case of force majeure. Therefore, approach the selection of tickets with special care and a sound assessment.