When planning travel in Russia, the question is increasingly common, is it possible to fly in Russia with a passport? A superficial analysis says no, but if you look closely, the situation will be interesting.
You can buy a plane ticket, as well as a train ticket, using your passport for both domestic and international flights. This document is intended to certify the identity of a citizen of Russia outside its borders. But inside the country it is also valid. The author of this article himself has repeatedly flown within Russia on a passport, for example, when the final point after all transfers was outside the Russian Federation. However, the Russians are not used to flying with a passport on the territory of Russia. But there are often times when an internal Russian passport cannot be used to buy an air ticket or check in for a flight for the following reasons:
- Loss or theft;
- Damage and non-compliance with the requirements of public services;
- Expiration date (in this case, it must be replaced);
- Other reasons (for example, the passenger has forgotten at home).
In such cases, the question naturally arises whether it is possible to buy a plane ticket using a passport or not. Yes, you can.
It happens that a ticket is booked using the passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation, but before departure it turned out to be invalid or lost. In this case, is it possible to present another document at check-in for the flight?
Not. If this became known in advance, then the problem can be solved by changing the corresponding data in the e-ticket. This service is paid. For example, in the Pobeda airline, it costs about 4,000 rubles. Changes can be made through the company's website in your personal account, or by calling the contact center (paid call, from 55 rubles / min.). This must be done no later than 4 hours before the plane takes off. You can also change the entries through the airport ticket office, but no later than 40 minutes before the departure of the flight, since it is at this moment that the check-in of passengers stops. With a document that has expired or whose data does not correspond to those specified in the itinerary receipt, they will not be allowed on board the aircraft.
As of 2018, the following are recognized as official documents for issuing an air ticket:
- Internal Russian passport.
- Child's birth certificate.
- A military ID if it contains a mark of a Russian serviceman (contract soldier or conscript) that he is currently serving in the army.
- Temporary passport. Serves as a replacement for an expired or lost passport for the period of registration of the main document.
- international passport
The specifics of using a passport are regulated in the Federal Law No. 114 "On the procedure for leaving the Russian Federation and entering the Russian Federation", as well as by the decree of V. V. Putin dated 19.10.2005 N 1222 (as amended on 07.12.2016) on the identification of a citizen outside the Russian Federation. After reviewing the regulations, we can conclude that they do not determine the use of a passport within the country. So is it possible to fly domestic flights with a passport? There is no unequivocal answer in the law, but this does not mean that it is not necessary.
A foreign passport, unlike a regular one, does not have a registration record. Consequently, air carriers have the right to refuse to sell a ticket, indicating this moment. But in practice, they rarely refuse. Today it is possible to book a flight ticket through websites on the Internet. An identity card is called a passport, but often an international passport. The information of the document is driven into a special line, payment is made by card or in another way, after which the ticket is considered issued.
How to buy a plane ticket with a passport
Buying an air ticket on a foreign passport for domestic flights does not differ from booking on a domestic Russian passport. As we have already found out, it is not prohibited by law to travel around Russia with a passport. Booking air tickets with foreign companies requires the indication of the name and date of birth of the buyer. The requirements of domestic air carriers are much stricter - you will be asked to indicate your full name, date of birth, passport details and other information. The question arises, is it possible to buy a ticket for a foreign passport with such requirements? Practice shows that it is possible. When booking an air ticket on the airline's website, you will need to indicate information from your passport. The entered data will be entered into the e-ticket. In the future, it will remain to arrive at the airport and present your passport and itinerary receipt (optional) at the check-in counter. If the details of the passport and ticket match, the person will safely board the flight.
conclusions
- Traveling in Russia with a passport is more likely than not possible. Much depends on the policy of the airline, railway, or other carrier.
- An international passport can completely replace the usual one when buying air tickets.
- If the passport is lost, the passenger can reissue the ticket for a foreign document. In all cases, you need to carefully study the rules of the airlines, as they differ.
