Uzbekistan's national airline Uzbekistan Airways has updated its policy on refunds and reissuance of tickets for domestic flights. This was reported by Upl.uz.
These changes were implemented as a result of the intervention of the Committee for the Development of Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights. The main updates apply to tickets purchased under the “round-trip” fare, introducing financial liability for passengers who do not notify in advance about changes in their travel plans.
Previously, if a passenger missed the first flight, the return ticket was automatically canceled. This practice was considered a restriction on consumer rights.
For example, a passenger traveling from Tashkent to Urgench who missed the first flight would lose the right to use the return flight even if they reached their destination. Now, to retain or reissue the return ticket, the passenger must notify the Uzbekistan Airways agency in advance about not taking the first flight.
In this case, ticket refunds or changes to the travel date will be made according to the previous fare conditions. However, passengers who miss the first flight without prior notice will be fined.
When they later request a refund or reissuance of the ticket, a penalty equal to the full price of the unused flight segment will be charged. Nevertheless, the possibility to use the return flight without additional payments or changes remains.
Additionally, the right to refund or change airport and other fees for unused route segments is guaranteed. The Competition Committee emphasized that these measures were adopted to comply with national legislation.
The Law “On Protection of Consumer Rights” strictly prohibits the introduction of rules that restrict customer rights or reduce their guarantees. In particular, Article 21 of the law states that the seller cannot demand payment for services not actually provided.
These changes are an important step in strengthening passengers' rights and promoting fair competition in the Uzbek airline market. Many airlines worldwide apply the practice of canceling subsequent ticket segments if the first flight is missed.
This issue has been discussed in courts in many countries, with varying opinions on its legality.
