Airline Refunds Money for Ticket to Krasnoyarsk Resident with Expired Passport
Airline Faced Fine for Excessive Passport Expiry Rule Enforcement
Aeroflot, a Russian airline, was hit with a hefty fine of around 10,000 rubles due to their hard-lined stance on passport expiry. A passenger from Krasnoyarsk was denied boarding on a flight from Moscow to Minsk because his passport had expired just a few days prior to his 45th birthday, despite the man having successfully registered for the flight online.
The unfortunate traveler reported the incident to the local branch of Rospatexpertiza, Russia's consumer protection agency. The law states that a passport remains valid for 90 days after its expiration, and the agency sided with the passenger, finding that Aeroflot had breached his consumer rights.
The airline was ordered to pay the passenger a total of 9,900 rubles, which included the cost of the ticket (5,600 rubles), compensation for the moral damage incurred, and a penalty fee.
Although Aeroflot initially refused to address the matter, the legal consequence serves as a reminder for airlines to exercise flexibility in enforcing rules concerning travel documents, particularly in cases where the lapse is minor. Failure to do so could result in potentially costly consequences.
For more information on air travel consumer rights in Russia, feel free to ask!
(Sources: Rospatexpertiza, Russian consumer protection law, and the base article)
- In the aviation industry, it is crucial for airlines to adhere to consumer protection laws, as failing to do so, as seen with Aeroflot, can lead to fines and negative impacts on lifestyle and travel experiences.
- The recent fine imposed on Aeroflot for their strict passport expiry rule enforcement highlights the importance of flexibility in the finance sector, specifically for travel-related services, to avoid infringing on consumer rights.
- The news of Aeroflot's fine serves as a warning to all players in the transportation and travel industry to ensure compliance with relevant laws, particularly those related to passport validity, to maintain a positive reputation and customer satisfaction.
