Soldier's Reunion Ruined by Airline Overbooking
Denis Abikenov, a 46-year-old soldier from Berdsk in the Novosibirsk region, faced a heartbreaking situation when a planned reunion with his wife was disrupted due to airline overbooking. Mobilized in November 2022, Abikenov had not seen his wife for nine months and managed to secure a brief leave to meet her in Samara. After preparing for a romantic weekend, including flowers and a restaurant reservation, he arrived at the airport only to learn that his wife was denied boarding despite having checked in.
Airline's Apology and Lack of Regulation
S7 Airlines stated that Abikenov's wife was unable to fly due to the need to accommodate transfer passengers, and they offered her a rebooking option for the next day. However, with limited leave, she declined the offer, leaving Abikenov to bear the costs of his preparations alone. The airline's standard apology did little to alleviate the situation, raising questions about their ticketing practices and the lack of regulations surrounding overbooking.
Legal Advice for Affected Passengers
Evgeny Masharov, a member of the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation, highlighted that overbooking incidents are common and not well-regulated by law. He advised passengers facing similar situations to document their experience and file claims against the airline. While the Air Code of the Russian Federation provides some compensation for delays, it does not specifically address overbooking, leaving many passengers vulnerable to such mishaps.
