Ryanair changed flight, offering credit - Advice?

Quassi75

I had the same thing. Booked a flight to Eindhoven from Bristol to go visit my parents. parking booked, travel insurance booked and received the email.

Absolutley !!!!ed off with Ryanair for doing this. Why do they offer cheap flights and then cancel it?!?

No appologies, and I dont even know why they cancelled my flight.

Ryansir should be folded and people should STOP using those timewasters.

This is the 2nd time they took advantage off me, and also will be the last!

Bob_the_Saver

"£1 per flight" It's a risk with taking, 99 times out of a hundred you win 1 time you lose. Best to take cabin baggage and book with Electron then all you lose is £2.
We book loads of Ryanair 1c, 1p, £1 or 1 Euro flights we don't take because the odd one we do use more than makes up for the others. AND NO we aren't depriving others out of the seats because the flights at the moment are not full and if I stay up until 1am (Paris time) to book them and others can't be bothered is that my fault. (I thought I'd get by defence in first).
I only started using Ryanair when BA and Airfungus let me down.

peterbaker

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Ryanair have offered him alternative flights or a full refund. Seems fair enough to me....

robin123 wrote:

Clearly, from your point of view, you shouldn't be upset if this happens to you as Ryanair are entitled to do it. And as long as Ryanair are entitled to do something, then thats fine.

PBS_again wrote:

You've got it. I have a travel insurance policy to cover such eventualities.

I for one would like to know who the underwriter is and which particular clause of that underwriter's policy wording you think you could rely upon to indemnify you, because I believe you are talking out of the back of your hat, PBS :rolleyes:

PS As always, I stand to be corrected

PPS By a quirk of their system/modus operandi, probably the best insurance as a contingency solution against not being able to take the exact Ryanair flight you originally plan is exactly as Bob the Saver describes :money:
PPPS Yes, Ryanair are notorious for making changes of this type, so do have a backup plan.

PPPPS Ryanair only dare do this because we let them. The psychology of the way they work is similar to that of criminals who 'get away' with something and next time are emboldened to go further ... there is a formal psychological term for such behaviour I think. A claim against them might succeed in a small claims court. Ryanair appear to have fixed assets at Stansted now (a s*ddin' great hangar with their name on it), so a small claim against them at I guess Chelmsford court for the cost of Easyjet or BA tickets to Prague might not actually cost very much and somehow I doubt any Ryanair 'muscle' would be in evidence on the day. What do we consumerists think? Would that be a goer?

PolishBigSpender

kdowner wrote: »

I had the same thing. Booked a flight to Eindhoven from Bristol to go visit my parents. parking booked, travel insurance booked and received the email.

Absolutley !!!!ed off with Ryanair for doing this. Why do they offer cheap flights and then cancel it?!?

Why do train companies offer trains and then cancel them? Why do buses sometimes not turn up? What about ferries which sometimes get cancelled? All companies do this - Ryanair is *not* alone! I'll remind you that BA were cancelling flights left/right/centre because of problems at T5, even though they had no actual impact upon BA's ability to operate the flight.

Ryansir should be folded and people should STOP using those timewasters.

Actually, I'm quite content with them. If you don't like it, book with someone else. But I guess it wouldn't be as cheap/convenient/etc.

This is the 2nd time they took advantage off me, and also will be the last!

How did they 'take advantage' of you if they offered you a full, no quibble refund? Try getting a refund from UK train companies if a train doesn't turn up....:)

Shona99

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

With Ryanair, frankly speaking, no. You could attempt to go down the litigation route, but that could see you up against the best muscle that Ryanair have - and with the uncertain nature of EU regulations (as far as I know, they've never been tested in a UK court!), you might not succeed.

As they say, you pays your monies and you takes your choices.

Shona99 - that's one of the best posts I've ever read on here, thank you!

What's so uncertain about the Regulation?

Is this opinion or even just "received wisdom"? (Where does this received wisdom come from?)

Which aspect of EC 261/2004 hasn't been tested?

How would you know if it had been tested or attempted to have been tested?
(Do you think a carrier would tell you-unless of course an "outcome" had come in their perceived favour?)

In any litigation there tends ultimately to be a winner and a loser. "Might lose " is an inherent risk in any litigation burdened on either party.

How much "muscle" does it take on the part of a passenger? Presumably some finger muscles and then some jaw muscles to speak before a judge-maybe a bit of "muscle" between the ears?
Ultimately that is the purpose of a court to arbitrate and provide guidance on any perceived clarification required of a law.

A carrier can't use muscle in the sense of placing a Judge in a Half-Nelson.

Presumably the carrier or their agents will need to use the same muscles as the passenger in seeking any required elucidation from a court.

How does any" precedent" or court determination come about?

I thought the perceived wisdom was that banks were quite adept and experienced players at litigation.

PolishBigSpender

Shona99 wrote: »

What's so uncertain about the Regulation?

Quite a bit, given that the airlines in general are ignoring it.

Which aspect of EC 261/2004 hasn't been tested?

How would you know if it had been tested or attempted to have been tested?
(Do you think a carrier would tell you-unless of course an "outcome" had come in their perceived favour?)

Court records are public knowledge, aren't they?

If EC 261/2004 had been tested in a superior court in the UK (not the local Small Claims Court!) - then we would know where people stand. As far as I know, it hasn't been. It certainly hasn't been tested in the Polish courts.

In any litigation there tends ultimately to be a winner and a loser. "Might lose " is an inherent risk in any litigation burdened on either party.

Yes. But when you're attempting to enforce it on someone that has much, much more money than you have, then you can see that the regulation is mostly worthless.

A carrier can't use muscle in the sense of placing a Judge in a Half-Nelson.

Yes, but the airline can tie you up in an expensive civil case until you give in because you simply can't afford to continue.

I thought the perceived wisdom was that banks were quite adept and experienced players at litigation.

You can't compare banks and airlines.

peterbaker

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Yes, but the airline can tie you up in an expensive civil case until you give in because you simply can't afford to continue.

You are perhaps rather new to all this PBS You perhaps have still much to learn about how the common man has real and effective access to the highest courts in the UK and more inclusively-minded parts of the EU?

Meantime, I went looking today to answer my own question about which travel insurance underwriter you'd found who might pay out some kind of benefit or indemnity in the manner you asserted you yourself would be covered.

I actually found one policy wording where it might work, but possibly not for you ...

Would you believe that Ryanair may actually have shot themselves in both feet?

They have made themselves party to the arrangements pertaining to a particular branded insurance contract which uniquely marks out Ryanair cancellations for special treatment.

In all other travel insurance contracts I know of, and even in this one if the airline involved is not Ryanair, when the airline cancels of their own free will then there is no insurance cover to be claimed by the beleaguered traveller.

But in the Ryanair travel insurance policy, where Ryanair in typically controlling fashion have jumped in with both feet, they have chosen to get clumsily involved in fronting the insurance which is not their core business, now is it? They evidently felt that promoting themselves to act as an FSA regulated entity in arranging their own branded travel insurance was a way for them to put their way of doing things plainly in our faces again. Evidently using their 'muscle' they've done a deal with AXA (the current underwriters this week) with regard to their own cancellations. Messing with insurance policy wordings without self-harming has always required sound insurance experience coupled with appropriate legal experience in the insurance sector and sensitive insurance marketing experience, i.e. not lo-cost airline experience and definitely not lo-cost bully-boy ruthless constantly changing Ts & Cs legal experience. Personally I rather think Ryanair may have been a tad amateurish here, and may yet be seen not so much in our faces but wiping the egg from theirs .

I would say that what they have clearly published, for all to see, in the full policy wording available on their website, even without the typos they've missed, might be tantamount to an admission of deflecting the course of justice in settling valid EC 261/2004 claims expeditiously for all those who DO NOT buy Ryanair travel insurance.

Oh and by the way, PBS, if you are a Ryanair customer and buy Ryanair travel insurance, I think you'll find you are wasting your money entirely unless you are a UK or Eire resident. :money: Having said that, if I was right last time, maybe you are that particular Eire resident that makes us O'laugh :rotfl:, so you of all people might enjoy full cover with no residency hiccups . Hell, unlike the rest of us, I bet you could even email your claim for immediate settlement via the petty cash

You can't compare banks and airlines.

Really? So why are Ryanair selling credit cards and travel insurance? :rolleyes:

gregg1

peterbaker wrote: »

You are perhaps rather new to all this PBS You perhaps have still much to learn about how the common man has real and effective access to the highest courts in the UK and more inclusively-minded parts of the EU?

Meantime, I went looking today to answer my own question about which travel insurance underwriter you'd found who might pay out some kind of benefit or indemnity in the manner you asserted you yourself would be covered.

I actually found one policy wording where it might work, but possibly not for you ...

Would you believe that Ryanair may actually have shot themselves in both feet?

They have made themselves party to the arrangements pertaining to a particular branded insurance contract which uniquely marks out Ryanair cancellations for special treatment.

In all other travel insurance contracts I know of, and even in this one if the airline involved is not Ryanair, when the airline cancels of their own free will then there is no insurance cover to be claimed by the beleaguered traveller.

But in the Ryanair travel insurance policy, where Ryanair in typically controlling fashion have jumped in with both feet, they have chosen to get clumsily involved in fronting the insurance which is not their core business, now is it? They evidently felt that promoting themselves to act as an FSA regulated entity in arranging their own branded travel insurance was a way for them to put their way of doing things plainly in our faces again. Evidently using their 'muscle' they've done a deal with AXA (the current underwriters this week) with regard to their own cancellations. Messing with insurance policy wordings without self-harming has always required sound insurance experience coupled with appropriate legal experience in the insurance sector and sensitive insurance marketing experience, i.e. not lo-cost airline experience and definitely not lo-cost bully-boy ruthless constantly changing Ts & Cs legal experience. Personally I rather think Ryanair may have been a tad amateurish here, and may yet be seen not so much in our faces but wiping the egg from theirs .

I would say that what they have clearly published, for all to see, in the full policy wording available on their website, even without the typos they've missed, might be tantamount to an admission of deflecting the course of justice in settling valid EC 261/2004 claims expeditiously for all those who DO NOT buy Ryanair travel insurance.

Oh and by the way, PBS, if you are a Ryanair customer and buy Ryanair travel insurance, I think you'll find you are wasting your money entirely unless you are a UK or Eire resident. :money: Having said that, if I was right last time, maybe you are that particular Eire resident that makes us O'laugh :rotfl:, so you of all people might enjoy full cover with no residency hiccups . Hell, unlike the rest of us, I bet you could even email your claim for immediate settlement via the petty cash

Really? So why are Ryanair selling credit cards and travel insurance? :rolleyes:

Excellent post.

PolishBigSpender

peterbaker wrote: »

You are perhaps rather new to all this PBS You perhaps have still much to learn about how the common man has real and effective access to the highest courts in the UK and more inclusively-minded parts of the EU?

I've seen and read enough stories of the 'common man' losing everything after bringing a claim against a much bigger rival. Given that the UK government is desperate to cut back 'Legal Aid' - I don't think there'll be much in the way of money for people suing airlines.

Meantime, I went looking today to answer my own question about which travel insurance underwriter you'd found who might pay out some kind of benefit or indemnity in the manner you asserted you yourself would be covered.

I actually found one policy wording where it might work, but possibly not for you ...

Try PZU from Poland. Remeber, just because something isn't available in the UK doesn't mean that it isn't available here.

Oh and by the way, PBS, if you are a Ryanair customer and buy Ryanair travel insurance, I think you'll find you are wasting your money entirely unless you are a UK or Eire resident. :money:

You're a strange one. I've just looked at Ryanair's travel insurance and what do I find? Oh...what a surprise!

http://www.airlineplus.com/files/axa/ryanair/plusinsurance_PL.pdf

The amount of factual inaccuracies that you make are quite frankly staggering.

Having said that, if I was right last time, maybe you are that particular Eire resident that makes us O'laugh :rotfl:, so you of all people might enjoy full cover with no residency hiccups . Hell, unlike the rest of us, I bet you could even email your claim for immediate settlement via the petty cash

Perhaps taking two seconds to examine the policy for Polish residents might have helped

Really? So why are Ryanair selling credit cards and travel insurance?

Never heard of affiliate marketing?

peterbaker

PolishBigSpender wrote: »

Try PZU from Poland. Remeber, just because something isn't available in the UK doesn't mean that it isn't available here.

You're a strange one. I've just looked at Ryanair's travel insurance and what do I find? Oh...what a surprise!

http://www.airlineplus.com/files/axa/ryanair/plusinsurance_PL.pdf

The amount of factual inaccuracies that you make are quite frankly staggering.

Well PBS, I think you've slightly exaggerated with that one, but I grant you now have me at a slight disadvantage as I do not understand a word of Polish in your link except maybe Bagaż, op!źnienie bagażu i paszport . But I certainly understand the English version of the same wording at http://www.airlineplus.com/files/axa/ryanair/plusinsurance_EN.pdf

Shall we assume the Polish Section J 'Travel Disruption' section is more or less a straight translation of the UK/Eire version? Hang on a moment, is there even a Section J 'Travel Disruption' section in your link?? No there ain't

Oh dear, is there no cover in the non-UK/Eire policies offered through Ryanair's website for Ryanair's whimsical cancellations? No? But you say you can buy it through your household name insurer Powszechny Zaklad Ubezpieczen? We'll have to take your word for it. That makes it even more weird that only if you are a UK or Eire resident you can get it covered (Section J 'Travel Disruption' section ) as part of a completely different AXA policy wording when bought through the Ryanair UK/Eire sites. So what the devil are they playing at?

And whats with the airlinesplus.com website if you are not sitting in UK or Eire when you click on the Travel Insurance tag on the Ryanair website? Who are they? I am losing track. Are they a party to the insurance as well? There seem to be more more parties to some of these insurance deals than there are middlemen on a Maltese Scratchcard game :rolleyes:

Perhaps taking two seconds to examine the policy for Polish residents might have helped

I guess the Polish version is for Polish residents and you fooled me with your command of the English language, dear boy

Never heard of affiliate marketing?

Affiliate of what? ... a piece of fish? ... a kettle of the stuff? ... a can of worms? ...