NON-REFUNDABLE TICKET
Non-refundable plane ticket:
can you recover the taxes?
Do you have a non-refundable plane ticket and ended up not taking your flight? Even if the airline refuses to refund the ticket price, certain taxes and fees can sometimes be recoverable when the passenger did not board.
In France, Service-Public states that in the case of a no-show, even if the ticket is non-refundable, the passenger can request a refund of the airport tax and passenger fee included in the ticket price.
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With a non-refundable plane ticket, you generally cannot automatically recover the full ticket price. However, if you did not board, certain taxes and fees may be refundable, in particular when they depend on the passenger actually boarding.
In France, the Consumer Code provides for a refund no later than 30 days after the request is received; the online request is free, and offline fees cannot exceed 20% of the amount refunded.
Refundable taxes on a non-refundable ticket: what you need to know
A non-refundable plane ticket is a ticket whose fare conditions limit or exclude a refund of the transport price if the passenger cancels, misses the flight or does not travel.
But the price of a plane ticket is made up of several elements: some relate to the transport itself, others correspond to taxes, fees, charges or options.
A tax refund request should therefore not be worded as a general request to refund the ticket. It should be targeted at the recoverable taxes or fees.
Definition: what is a non-refundable plane ticket?
A non-refundable plane ticket is a ticket whose fare conditions allow little or no recovery of the ticket price if the passenger does not travel. This can include:
- –low-cost tickets
- –promotional tickets
- –restrictive economy tickets
- –tickets bought without a flexible option
- –tickets voluntarily cancelled by the passenger
- –tickets not used after a missed flight
A ticket can be non-refundable for its fare portion while still leaving open the possibility of requesting certain recoverable taxes.
Definition: what are refundable taxes on a non-refundable ticket?
Refundable taxes are taxes or fees included in the ticket price whose applicability depends on the passenger actually boarding.
In France, the Consumer Code targets itemized taxes and fees shown as such in the ticket price, when the ticket is no longer valid and was not used for transport. In practice, this mainly concerns the airport tax and the passenger fee in the case of a no-show.
Key facts
| Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Situation | Non-refundable plane ticket |
| Full ticket price | Generally non-refundable depending on the fare conditions |
| Potentially recoverable taxes | Certain airport taxes and passenger fees |
| Automatic request | No, you often need to make it yourself |
| Contact | Airline or agency depending on the purchase channel |
| French legal deadline | Refund no later than 30 days after the request is received |
| Online request | Free in France |
| Offline fees | Maximum 20% of the amount refunded in France |
| Refund guaranteed? | No |
Why a non-refundable ticket can still entitle you to taxes
| Item | Nature | Can it be recovered? |
|---|---|---|
| Airfare | Price of the transport | Often not if the ticket is non-refundable |
| Airport tax | Tax linked to the airport / passenger | Yes, in certain cases |
| Passenger fee | Fee linked to the passenger | Yes, in certain cases |
| Carrier surcharge | Airline fee or surcharge | Not automatically |
| Baggage / seat | Option | Generally not |
| Insurance | Separate contract | Variable |
| Agency fees | Intermediary fees | Often not |
What French regulations say
In France, article L224-66 of the Consumer Code states that the refund of the relevant taxes and fees must be made no later than 30 days after the request is received, that the request can be submitted by any means, including online, that the online request is free, and that offline fees cannot exceed 20% of the amount refunded.
Service-Public states that even if the ticket is non-refundable, in the case of a no-show, you can request a refund of the airport tax and passenger fee included in the ticket price. The request should be sent to the seller of the ticket, i.e. the airline or the travel agency.
How to request a tax refund?
The exact procedure may vary, but the general logic remains the same.
Check the ticket type
Look for terms like "non-refundable", "light fare", "basic economy", "no refund"... and also check whether taxes are shown separately in the price breakdown.
Check whether you boarded or not
The ability to claim certain taxes often depends on whether the passenger actually boarded the flight.
Identify the ticket seller
The request should be sent to the ticket seller: the airline for a direct purchase, or the agency/OTA if bought via Opodo, eDreams, Expedia, Booking or Trip.com.
Prepare the necessary information
Passenger name, booking reference, ticket number, flight number, flight date, booking email, e-ticket and detail of the price paid.
Word a request targeted at the taxes
Avoid "I want a refund for my ticket": specifically request a refund of the recoverable taxes and fees linked to an unused ticket.
Keep proof of your request
A copy of the message, the date sent, a screenshot of the form, an acknowledgment of receipt, the case number and any replies received.
Follow up if necessary
In France, the refund must be made no later than 30 days after the request is received.
Message template for a non-refundable ticket
Subject: Request for a refund of recoverable taxes – unused non-refundable ticket
Hello,
I would like to request a refund of the recoverable taxes and fees linked to a non-refundable plane ticket that I did not use.
Passenger name:
Booking reference:
Ticket number:
Flight number:
Flight date:
Email address used for the booking:
I would like to clarify that I did not board this flight. My request does not necessarily concern a full refund of the ticket, but the recoverable taxes and fees.
Best regards,
If you bought via an agency or an OTA, check our dedicated page to adapt this message to the correct contact.
Common mistakes to avoid
Assuming "non-refundable" means "no recoverable taxes"
The ticket may be non-refundable for its fare portion, but certain taxes can remain recoverable if you did not board.
Requesting only a full ticket refund
If your request is worded as a request for a full refund, it may be refused without any specific handling of the taxes.
Confusing taxes, fees and options
Baggage, seats, insurance, surcharges and service fees are not always refundable.
Contacting the airline when the ticket was bought via an agency
The correct contact may be the agency or platform that sold the ticket.
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Special case: non-refundable ticket with insurance
If you paid for cancellation insurance or travel insurance, check your contract. Insurance may cover certain cancellation reasons, but this depends on the type of contract, the reason, the required documentation, the reporting deadline and the exclusions.
Insurance is a separate process from the tax refund request.
Special case: non-refundable ticket bought via an agency
If you bought your ticket via an agency or OTA, things can be less direct. You may need to:
- –ask the agency to handle the refund
- –check whether the airline redirects you to the agency
- –ask for a breakdown of processing fees
- –attach the unused ticket
- –follow up with the agency if it does not reply
Special case: flight cancelled by the airline
If the flight was cancelled by the airline, you are no longer in the typical case of an unused non-refundable ticket. You may be entitled to a ticket refund or rerouting, or even compensation depending on the circumstances. So do not limit your request to taxes if the airline cancelled the flight.
What our guides do not guarantee
- –that the airline will accept your request
- –that all taxes will be refunded
- –that the ticket price will be refunded
- –that an agency will not charge any fees
- –that a late request will be processed favorably
The refund depends on the airline, the ticket, the country of departure, the taxes actually paid, the purchase channel and the applicable conditions.
Independent site, not affiliated with any airline
Flight Tax Refund is an independent site. The site is not affiliated with Ryanair, Vueling, easyJet, Air France, KLM or any other airline mentioned.
Our guides are practical informational resources. They do not constitute personalized legal advice and do not guarantee that you will obtain a refund.
In summary
- –A non-refundable plane ticket may remain non-refundable for the price of the transport.
- –This does not necessarily mean that all taxes are lost.
- –In the case of a no-show, certain taxes and fees may be recoverable.
- –In France, the refund of the relevant taxes must be made no later than 30 days after the request is received.
- –The online request is free, and offline fees are capped at 20% of the amount refunded in France.
- –The correct contact depends on the purchase channel: the airline or the agency.
- –No refund is guaranteed.
Frequently asked questions about non-refundable tickets and taxes
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Useful sources
- – Service-Public.fr: can you get a refund for your plane ticket if you miss or cancel your flight?
- – Légifrance: French Consumer Code, article L224-66
- – INC Conso: recovering taxes and fees after a flight cancellation
- – Service-Public.fr: template to claim a refund of the airport tax and passenger fee
- – French Ministry of the Economy: rights in the event of a cancelled or delayed flight