Pobeda Airlines, which bills itself as a "low-cost" airline, intends to increase the price of its "small" baggage allowance (up to 10 kilograms) from 509 to 793 rubles starting September 4. Passengers intending to purchase such baggage from Pobeda Airlines should do so by the end of the day on September 3, reports Travel.ru's own correspondent.
The 793 ruble price will only apply when purchasing baggage online—when booking a ticket or subsequently before check-in. Purchasing such baggage at the airport currently costs 1,000 rubles (plus any applicable ticket office fees). Pobeda also promises that "small" baggage will be available to all passengers in a booking (currently, the company allows only one passenger per booking to check in this type of baggage, although previously it was available to all passengers). It's possible that the price may be higher than 793 rubles on certain routes (Pobeda's announcement only mentions the "minimum fare").
As a reminder, many passengers flying with small suitcases and other compact bags and backpacks, which are allowed as free carry-on baggage on the vast majority of airlines, are forced to purchase this type of baggage weighing up to 10 kilograms from Pobeda. However, Pobeda limits carry-on baggage to a tiny and awkward cube ("calibrator") measuring 36 x 30 x 27 centimeters, which is insufficient to accommodate many ordinary small city bags, as well as some mobile electronics, such as some laptops. Furthermore, Pobeda ignores federal aviation regulations regarding the free carriage of briefcases and handbags, despite a Supreme Court ruling that this practice is illegal.
Moreover, the company is demanding that the Ministry of Transport enshrine its wishes in law. Soon, passengers of all Russian airlines may lose their guarantees of free carriage of briefcases, handbags, backpacks, outerwear, as well as baby food, medications, canes, crutches, and other medically necessary items. This is according to a draft order from the Ministry of Transport, prepared following a request from Pobeda Airlines to strip passengers of all these guarantees. If approved, all Russian carriers will be able to limit passengers to 5 kilograms of carry-on baggage, with the airlines themselves being able to determine the permissible dimensions of such baggage (as is the case with Pobeda Airlines, as demonstrated by the "calibrator").
Passengers planning to use Pobeda Airlines should also keep in mind a number of other features of this airline, exercise extreme caution and attentiveness, and be prepared for various difficulties and surprises both when booking a ticket and during the flight itself.
Since August, the price for a 20-kilogram bag has varied on different routes (previously, it cost 1,529 rubles). This price has remained the same on some routes, while on some lines it has dropped to 1,223 rubles, and on others, it has increased. At the airport, such baggage now costs 3,000 rubles.
There is no onboard food service, regardless of the flight duration, and attempts to bring your own food in a separate bag may result in a check-in fee of 2,000 rubles or a throw-away order (if it doesn't fit into Pobeda's "calibrator" along with the rest of your carry-on baggage). When purchasing a ticket on the Pobeda website at the minimum "Standard" fare, the company includes paid insurance by default. To opt out, you must uncheck the appropriate options at the bottom of the additional services selection page.
There are also problems with returning or changing a ticket in the event of flight disruptions or schedule changes - Pobeda hides the toll-free call center for forced changes and refunds. There are also problems with boarding a flight - Pobeda can herd passengers into the apron bus even before the plane itself appears at the airport. Seat selection is paid, and to encourage the purchase of this service, Pobeda can deliberately seat passengers flying together at opposite ends of the cabin and prohibit them from changing seats. The year before last, this led to a loud scandal: Pobeda turned in a family with a baby to the police for an attempt by the parents to reunite on the plane - after the airline itself deliberately seated them in different rows in an attempt to earn an extra 149 rubles from each of the passengers for changing seats.
Check-in at Pobeda Airlines' departure counters from international airports (including Bergamo) will be subject to a fee of 25 euros starting October 28. To avoid this fee, passengers will have to check in online in advance (and only during a very limited window from 24 to 4 hours before departure) and present their boarding pass at the airport. Pobeda Airlines' website claims that an electronic boarding pass on a mobile phone will be sufficient, but its representatives insisted on social media that a printed copy of the online boarding pass will also be required. Should Pobeda Airlines fail to reach an agreement on this issue, passengers should consider printing it. This is most easily done at almost any hotel (even if the passenger is not staying there) by contacting the check-in desk or concierge.
Source: travel.ru