The so-called low-cost airline Pobeda stopped selling carry-on baggage online on November 15. Furthermore, contrary to Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR), Pobeda Airlines has refused to carry briefcases, handbags, computer bags, outerwear, walking sticks, garment bags, and other items that are absolutely free under Russian law, as of November 21, reports Travel.ru's own correspondent.
Pobeda attempted to explain its refusal to comply with the law during a specially convened press conference, which the company's management, fearing sensitive questions, barred Travel.ru journalists from attending. The explanation was still poor—the airline failed to provide any clear or reasonable justification for violating the Federal Aviation Regulations.
The carrier directly acknowledged the non-compliance of its new rules with Russian legislation, attempting to justify this violation by…correspondence with a foreign company. According to Pobeda, when it contacted Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, to determine the dimensions of carry-on baggage so that 189 such items (189 is the passenger capacity of a Boeing 737-800) would fit in the overhead bins, it received a response stating the dimensions were 36 x 30 x 27 centimeters.
Based on this response, Pobeda refused to accept for free carriage certain items stipulated by the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) (briefcases, handbags, outerwear, garment bags, canes, etc.) if they, together with the rest of the carry-on baggage, did not fit within the dimensions of 36 x 30 x 27 centimeters. Moreover, Pobeda completely ignored the availability of another ample space on the plane, besides the overhead bins, for storing these items—underseats. The underseat compartment is considered the safest on board, as items stored there cannot fall or shift in the event of an emergency.
On this subject, Pobeda made another unprecedentedly absurd statement. "Stowing carry-on baggage under seats doesn't ensure safety, as our seats don't recline. Everyone's seat is different, but on Pobeda, you can't stow carry-on baggage under the seat, as there's only legroom," the company's CEO, Andrey Kalmykov, stated at the aforementioned press conference. Astonishingly, the safety instructions posted on Pobeda planes recommend stowing carry-on baggage... under the seat in front, as with every other airline worldwide.
Moreover, if we believe everything Pobeda is currently claiming, it turns out that throughout its entire existence, it violated all those mythical "safety standards" it now cites as justification for cutting carry-on baggage allowances to ridiculous levels and refusing to comply with Federal Aviation Regulations. Pobeda, of course, didn't explain how all the other airlines operating Boeing 737s (and there are hundreds of them worldwide, including many budget airlines) safely fly with a much more generous carry-on allowance, plus passengers' personal items, including briefcases and handbags.
Passengers intending to use Pobeda Airlines should be aware that, starting November 21, the airline will likely attempt to deny carriage of briefcases, handbags, outerwear, garment bags, walking sticks, and other legally guaranteed free items if they, along with other carry-on baggage, do not fit within the notorious 36 x 30 x 27 centimeters. Obviously, the vast majority of briefcases, as well as all garment bags, walking sticks, and some outerwear, will by definition not fit within this limit, especially when combined with other carry-on baggage.
"If you have excess carry-on baggage, you have three options: check it in, request a fee from the staff member if there's room, or throw it away. Of course, you can also simply cancel your flight," said Andrey Kalmykov. "A suit in a garment bag? If it fits in the baggage compartment, of course it can be carried. But do you really need a wrinkled suit? We're required to carry a suit in a garment bag, but we don't have cloakrooms on board our aircraft, so we don't recommend flying with garment bags and suits on Pobeda flights. Duty Free purchases are the same, but only if they fit in the baggage compartment along with the rest of your carry-on."
Starting November 15, the fee for carry-on baggage mentioned by the CEO can only be purchased at the airport for 2,000 rubles (plus a possible agency fee). Previously, this could be done online for 1,529 rubles. However, formally, transportation is no longer guaranteed—Pobeda reserves the right (which it is unlikely to exercise) to refuse carriage of paid carry-on baggage. Carrying 10 kilograms of checked baggage remains at 509 rubles online (499 rubles plus a 2% fee) or 1,000 rubles (plus a possible fee) at the airport. 20 kilograms of checked baggage will cost 1,529 and 3,000 rubles, respectively.
In any case, all Pobeda passengers wishing to exercise their right to carry items guaranteed by law as unconditionally free of charge should carry a copy of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR-82) on every flight with this airline. Those who wish to fly with Pobeda should be prepared for lengthy debates with its representatives regarding their non-compliance with FAR regulations—both at the check-in counter and at the boarding gate—and possibly legal action against the carrier following each flight—if Pobeda representatives illegally refuse to allow passengers to board without paying for briefcases, handbags, and the like.
As a reminder, passengers planning to fly with Pobeda should be aware of a number of other features of this airline, exercise extreme caution and attentiveness, and be prepared for various complications and surprises both when booking a ticket and during the flight itself. Meals are not provided on board, regardless of the flight duration, and attempts to bring your own food in a separate bag will result in a 2,000 ruble fee, as for paid carry-on baggage. When purchasing a ticket at the minimum "Standard" fare on Pobeda's website, the company includes paid insurance by default. To opt out, you must uncheck the appropriate box at the bottom of the additional services selection page. Additionally, paid seat selection for passengers flying with others is now included by default.
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 number for forced changes and refunds. There are also problems with boarding a flight — Pobeda can herd passengers into an 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. Last year, 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 effort to earn an extra 149 rubles from each of the passengers for changing seats.
Source: travel.ru