Retirement does not mean the end of an active life for a long time. On the contrary, it is with the departure from work for a well-deserved rest that a person has a lot of time for himself, and therefore the opportunity to travel a little. This tradition has existed for many years in European countries, in many resorts and in many cities you can see groups of elderly tourists from Europe. After all, if you have free time, then you can finally visit all those cities and countries that you could not or did not have time to get to before.
Traveling by train is not always a convenient option. There are destinations where trains simply do not travel, and sometimes train journeys take a lot of time, involve transfers, where you have to fiddle with luggage - all this is not very convenient for an elderly person. The best option for traveling in the high-tech age is air travel. Now everyone can afford to buy a plane ticket. Since modern society is following the path of development, including social development, the direction of benefits for air tickets for pensioners is gradually developing. However, many of them do not even know if there are discounts for retirees on air tickets.
Consider how to buy discount air ticket for retirees.
It is best to search for discount tickets through several special search programs at once. Decide on a list of airlines that generally have a discount for retirees on air tickets, then check their websites one by one.
As a rule, this information is indicated when choosing a ticket. A discount for such a ticket can range from 10 to 30 percent, several different directions are usually involved in such promotions. Be careful!
When buying a ticket, be sure to tick the box confirming your pensioner status, and at the airport be ready to show the original of your pension certificate.
Most often, promotions involving discounts on flights for pensioners are carried out by Russian airlines. The reduced ticket price does not imply changes in the fare - the privileged passenger receives exactly the same level of service as all other economy class passengers. But it is better to take a closer look with the possibility of returning, extending the ticket and with the baggage allowance - the rules of discount tickets are much more strict. There are at least five major airlines in Russia that provide benefits for retirees, such as Aeroflot, Transaero, Ural Airlines, UTair and Yakutia.
Government program
For several years now, the federal program has successfully existed and is developing, which gives a discount on flights for several categories of the population, which include pensioners.
True, this program is valid only for residents of the Far East, flights are carried out in a limited number major cities Russia, as well as within the region.
Nevertheless, this is a great opportunity to leave your hometown for a short while, especially considering that the standard price for tickets from cities in the Far East is quite high. In addition, having reached Moscow, you can move in any direction, since there are a lot of flights from the capital every day.
There is a 50% discount in summer, when buying a ticket you need to indicate that you are a pensioner, and present your pension certificate at the airport. Flights are operated by several large Russian carriers, including Aeroflot, Russia, Ural Airlines.
Cheap Flights
Is it possible to buy discounted plane tickets for retirees in 2016 if you are not a resident of the Far East, and the selected airlines do not foresee large promotions for privileged categories of the population? There is an exit. A huge number of carriers offer cheap fares to the most popular destinations.
By saving on comfort, you will benefit from the ticket price. Such carriers are called low-cost airlines, it is assumed that in flight you will receive a low level of service, but you will also pay a small amount for a ticket. Low-cost airlines fly in a wide variety of directions.
In addition, many large and not very large airlines often arrange various sales; anyone can buy such a ticket, regardless of age. There is always an opportunity to save on the price of a plane ticket; you just have to competently search for cheap air tickets. Use special search programs and check for discounts on specific destinations or airlines. Very often you can find cheap flights to popular destinations within Russia, to large cities in Europe, to the most famous resorts that are in great demand.
Take care of buying a ticket in advance, then you will have much more chances to find cheap ticket and save even more than 30% of the original cost. Remember that discounted tickets and tickets for low-cost airlines are often non-luggage-free and non-refundable.
In contact with
Not every pensioner in the Russian Federation is able to pay the full cost of an air ticket, but the need for flights sooner or later arises. The state has taken care of one of the most vulnerable categories of the population with low incomes and has provided plane benefits to Russian pensioners.
The program began to operate in 2009, covering citizens over 60 (for women - from 55). Another mandatory requirement - registration / permanent residence in one of the following areas:
- Chukotka;
- Magadan and the region;
- Far East;
- Kaliningrad region;
- Transbaikalia.
If you meet these criteria, you can qualify for decent discounts: up to 50% or at special prices established by all-Russian legislation.
Preliminary actions
- Find out if there are any benefits in the chosen direction.
Specify the specific list of cities individually - it is expanding every year. It is planned to introduce daily flights on many routes. For example, in the Far East, there are discounts on flights to Anadyr, Yakutsk, Vladivostok, Magadan, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsk, Chita, Ulan-Ude and back to the European part of the Russian Federation (at the moment there are only 33 cities). And this year, with the help of a preferential flight, pensioners will be able to visit Sochi.
- Check the possibility of discounts on the selected flight.
- Inquire about possible additional promotions.
- Please note that preferences apply seasonally: usually from May to October (but there are other options). Therefore, prepare in advance for the flight during this period.
- Book / purchase tickets in advance, because their number is not unlimited, and the number of those who want to save is constantly growing (if you look at the statistics of Amur, from the beginning of the introduction of the program, about 8,000 elderly passengers received a discount, and today the number has grown to 20,000 people.
- Do not forget to bring your documents confirming your eligibility.
Maximum ticket prices
Naturally, the cost of tickets varies from objective indicators, in particular, the length of the route. The extreme price limit is 4.5 thousand rubles. (10 - 12 thousand for long flights).
The limit for the direction Kaliningrad - St. Petersburg or Moscow (and vice versa), for example, is about 3-7 thousand. You can fly to the capital with a discount even from such distant points as Magadan and Khabarovsk.
Other preferential categories of pensioners in 2019
In addition to living in remote areas, the basis for a discount on a flight in the amount of up to 50% may be the availability of a certificate (check in your region about the availability of a similar benefit for other categories of citizens).
In addition to seasonal discounts, once a year, you can get a free flight to the place of treatment and back (for example, to a sanatorium on the territory of the Russian Federation), but only if it is impossible to do this with other transport. Do not delay booking your ticket for the same reason that the privileged seats are strictly limited.
The same opportunity to fly free of charge to a domestic medical resort, to a sanatorium is available for non-working disabled people. and groups receive a 100% benefit, but a degree of disability is the basis for a 50% discount (employed retired citizens can count on it). Half of the ticket price is paid by one accompanying disabled person.
Where to contact?
Buy a ticket using a pension certificate and other documents at air ticket sales offices.
To obtain monetary compensation, go to your social security office.
The condition for granting a discount upon purchase is the presence of a pension, a passport to check permanent registration, preferential documents (if we are talking about a WWII veteran and other special categories of pensioners).
In 2018, Russian pensioners can use their right to a discount flight thanks to the following companies:
- Aeroflot, Vladivostok Air;
- Transaero;
- Yakutia;
- "Russia";
- "Taimyr";
- "Siberia";
- Ural Airlines;
- Vim-Avia;
- Alrosa;
- UTair;
- Mirny Aviation Enterprise.
These organizations entered into agreements with the state, otherwise the program for retirees simply would not be able to work (after all, the difference between the real cost of the ticket and the part that the pensioner pays must be covered by someone).
Nevertheless, this state of affairs is very beneficial for the airlines themselves, the demand for their services is steadily growing. Many start buying discounted tickets in March, a month before the start of official sales. Without a discount, some passengers hardly expressed such a desire, because, for example, on the Blagoveshchensk - Moscow route, the ticket price is 6000 rubles, and this is at a discount.
Terms of promotional offers 2019
Carriers sometimes carry out promotional campaigns to attract passenger traffic. These may include additional retirement discounts for specific destinations and for limited periods. But please note that such discounted tickets have restrictions:
- the passenger should not take luggage with him ( hand luggagenaturally allowed);
- food for the beneficiary is not provided;
- you cannot change the ticket;
- you will have to fly in the cheapest class;
- returning a ticket, you will lose part of its value.
An example of an extensive systematic action is relevant for WWII veterans. May preferences are in effect for them every year, and a flight to any destination is possible. It is possible that a similar state of affairs will continue in 2018.
Discounts on air tickets for seniors in 2019
The state of affairs for pensioners in 2019 is as follows.
Opportunities for flights have expanded, new nuances have appeared.
- The district principle of distribution of preferential tickets has been preserved (registration within Kaliningrad, the Volga region, the Far East, and the North).
- Reservation with a 50% discount is carried out upon presentation of the relevant documents confirming the applicant's status, and half of the price is paid by the state to the carriers from the federal or local budget.
- Cheap flights are made either in the region or to the European part of the Russian Federation.
- The seasonal principle is also in force: for example, for pensioners living in the Far East this time is from November 1 to March 31, for Kaliningraders it is valid from May to mid-October.
- Annual promotions are relevant. Thus, the aforementioned Utair air carrier offers veterans of the Great Patriotic War once a year for free to fly to both ends or only in one direction, and with the remaining funds to buy one accompanying ticket with a 30% discount. The same shares are held by Vladivostok Air, Yakutia, Transaero, Aeroflot.
The state program provides for discounted air tickets for the Far East in 2015, this is due to the high price of tickets for domestic flights, which is not available to most residents of the region. The cost of air tickets depends on the distance, so it is unprofitable for residents of the Far Eastern region to visit Moscow, resorts or other states. To remedy this situation, since 2010, the Government of the Russian Federation has launched a program to subsidize air travel, which entitles certain categories of citizens to purchase discount air tickets.
Residents of the Far East of the following categories are entitled to discount tickets:
- disabled children with one attendant,
- disabled people of the first group,
- residents of the region under 23 years old, including university students,
- women at the age of 55, and men at the age of 60 who have retired.
The cost of a reduced air ticket for the Far East is about half of the regular ticket price, children aged 2 to 12 years old receive an additional discount from the reduced price of 50%. Taking into account the discount, a ticket to Moscow will cost about 6,000 rubles.
Destinations covered by the benefit
The purchase of preferential air tickets for the Far East is possible for flights to Moscow, Simferopol (Crimea), St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk. It is possible to buy discounted tickets for routes with transfers, which go to the southern resorts in the Krasnodar Territory and Stavropol Territory, in addition, the state program applies to regional flights, in the case of children being delivered to summer camps and sanatoriums.
Airlines participating in the program
In 2015, it is possible to purchase discounted air tickets for the Far East from several airlines. Participation in the program is accepted by Aeroflot, Rossiya Airlines (a subsidiary of Aeroflot), S7. Also, in 2015, Transaero offers preferential air tickets for the Far East, they can be purchased for flights from April 1 to October 31, 2015.
Discount tickets are an opportunity for beneficiaries to spend an interesting vacation or receive treatment in the capital's medical centers. Some companies participating in subsidized flights are organizing additional promotions, for example, Transaero Airlines will provide 100% discount on air tickets to WWII veterans, home front workers and war veterans by the end of May. The action is dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the Victory over fascism.
The program of preferential air travel for the Far East is maintained and expanded. Subsidized air transportation from the Far East to Moscow, St. Petersburg, the cities of the Black Sea region, the Urals and Siberia will remain in 2016, Dmitry Kirsanov confirmed, acting Deputy Minister of Industry and Transport of the Government of the Khabarovsk Territory.
Minvody in span
The cost of discount tickets, as before, is 50 percent lower than the declared fare. The age of the passengers is also unchanged - young people and the elderly (women over 55 years old, men over 60 years old). The timing of subsidized flights has not changed either: you can use a reduced ticket from April 1 to October 31.
Let us recall that two decrees of the Russian government, according to which the Far East received the right to reduced air travel, were issued back in 2009. Funds from the federal budget are allocated annually for subsidies to airlines carrying out these transportation. They are also provided for in the 2016 budget.
The route network has been expanded since 2015. In addition to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Sochi, Krasnodar, Gelendzhik, Simferopol, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk were included in the list of “privileged” cities. But the route to Mineralnye Vody was canceled, since no one flew there.
Please note that the number of discounted seats on each flight is limited, so you need to take care of your tickets in advance. In order not to "fly over", like my friend Julia from Khabarovsk. Although she is a young mother, she no longer falls into the preferential category, and her little son does.
In September 2015, I suddenly needed to fly to Moscow. I thought I'd buy my son a ticket at half price, but at the box office they threw up their hands - the quota was selected. I had to be content with a children's discount, - said Yulia.
What about Peter?
A subsidized ticket to Moscow is expected to cost just over seven thousand rubles. In addition to Aeroflot, Ikar and Vim-Avia will fly to the capital from Khabarovsk. In Simferopol, obviously, as in 2015 - Ikar and Orenburg Airlines, the structure of Aeroflot.
The only moment that has not yet been clarified is how we will fly to St. Petersburg. Previously, these transportation was carried out by the Transaero company. Now that it is declared bankrupt, the direct flight from Khabarovsk to the northern capital was left without a carrier. If by April 1, when the sale of discounted tickets is traditionally opened, no airline will take up this direction, it will be possible to get to Pulkovo airport only with a transfer. Accordingly, it will obviously be possible to take advantage of the privilege only to Moscow or to another “subsidized city”, and then - to buy tickets at full cost. However, most likely, according to the regional ministry of transport, by the spring there will still be a company for a direct flight Khabarovsk - St. Petersburg. This direction is very popular among the residents of the region and the air carriers are unlikely to miss the benefit.
We fly along the edge
In the region, subsidized air travel from remote areas to Khabarovsk in 2016 is also preserved. Khabarovsk Airlines operates 10 preferential routes, Vostok - three. The residents of Nikolaevsk-on-Amur, Sovetskaya Gavan, Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Ayan, Nelkan, Chumikan, Okhotsk are covered by such benefits.
Airlines willingly go for preferential air travel, for them it is a guaranteed income. Each liner with more than 180 seats has 80 subsidized seats. In smaller planes - 60 or 40 seats.
The sale of discount air tickets usually begins in February-March. The start of sales depends on the timing of the conclusion of the relevant agreements for subsidized transportation between airlines and the Federal Air Transport Agency.
Most citizens are very fond of traveling, this should be facilitated by discounted plane tickets. There are several options for purchasing tickets at discounted prices. One of the most interesting is the government program that allows some categories of citizens of the country to purchase tickets at discounts.
Who can purchase a ticket at a reduced price?
There is a certain state subsidy program, which is necessary for everyone to have the opportunity to buy a ticket. The following categories of citizens can do this:
- Persons who have retired and have a document confirming this event.
- Students who need to travel to their place of study by air.
- Residents of the Far East (they are entitled to special prices for purchasing tickets).
- Other categories of citizens of the country.
In any case, in order to buy a ticket at a reduced price, you will need to confirm your right to do so. What can be done with a pension certificate, student card, passport with registration for the Far East.
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Discount rates for students
Pupils looking to buy discounted air tickets include schoolchildren and students who need to use an airline to get to their place of study. Unfortunately, their prices are not generally available and it is sometimes very difficult to buy them. It is for this that the state has developed a program that allows you to make a purchase without much difficulty.
You should also understand that such a discount imposes some restrictions:
- the student must be 10 or more years old;
- he must provide a certificate from the educational institution that he is studying on a full-time basis;
- it must be a regular class plane ticket;
- it is allowed to fly to any region of the country;
- the benefit is valid only for the period of the academic year.
It is also interesting that special benefits are offered to students with disabilities. Discounts for this category of students can be up to 70% of the cost. It should be noted that the reduced prices can be used not in every company that transports passengers by plane. You need to pay attention to the list of companies that have entered into an appropriate agreement with the state. Most private airlines will not offer you this option. The list of operating companies can be found directly at the educational institution.
If you want to buy discounted tickets, then you need to provide the following documents:
- identity document of the passenger - birth certificate or passport;
- a certificate from an educational institution.
The same documents will be required before boarding the plane. They must be with the passenger. Some airlines offer a discount to a student under 12 years of age. Therefore, before buying, you should consult with a specialist what you can expect by indicating the age of the passenger.
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What benefits are provided for the Far East?
For residents of this region of the country, buying an air ticket is a problem due to the fact that their prices are very high. This is due to the large distances between cities. Since 2010, there has been a state government program to subsidize the cost of plane tickets. It can be used by certain categories of citizens of the country:
- citizens under the age of 23, students of higher educational institutions are included in this category;
- pensioners - women from 55 years old, men from 60 years old;
- disabled people of group I;
- disabled children (they can fly with one accompanying person, for whom the benefit is also valid).
It should be noted that children from 2 to 12 years old are provided with a 50% discount of the air ticket price.
The government program provides for some areas for which the benefit applies:
- Moscow;
- St. Petersburg;
- Ekaterinburg;
- Novosibirsk;
- Simferopol.
You can use the right benefits if you are going to a resort in Krasnodar region or Stavropol region with transfers. Children who fly to a sanatorium or camp in summer can buy discounted air tickets.
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Discount tickets to Crimea
There is good news for those wishing to visit the peninsula. Airfare benefits are valid for summer vacations. This opportunity is available in 42 cities of the country, but direct flights to Simferopol follow from 32 cities. This price reduction is valid only until October 1. Most low prices, according to the state program, operate from Samara and Lipetsk. If you fly from Chelyabinsk or Yekaterinburg, then its cost will be from 3750 rubles. In winter, prices are not very high even without benefits; benefits are valid only in summer.
Due to the fact that subsidizing the cost of air tickets is very common, it is sometimes difficult to buy them. Therefore, it is better to do this in advance.
