Full refund or partial refund if one of the flights changes

benjii

Hi,

We have a booking with Ryanair.

They've just changed the airport on the inbound flight (the outband flight has not been affected).

Because they've changed the arrival airport for the flight coming back (meaning we are now supposed to be coming back to a different airport from the one we are to be taking off); are we entitled to a full refund (whole booking) or are we entitled to only a partial refund (for the affected inbound flight only)?

Ryanair claim that they can only offer refund for the affected inbound flight :mad:

We find this very unfair as we will have problems getting at night to the original airport where our car will be parked.

Any support will be much appreciated.

Hintza

I imagine Ryanair have this wrapped up tight and even if they don't they will probably just ignore you. So are you up for a fight?

In the meantime I think you will have to read their T&Cs with a fine toothcomb and any relevant European legislation.

But my immediate thoughts are Ryanair will argue that these are two seperate flights which are not linked in any way, you will have to argue that they are linked.

peachyprice

Yep, Ryanair don't sell return flights, they sell two one-way flights. You can cancel and re-book but then you will be subject to their cancellation fees.

Are the inbound and outbound airports very far apart?

frugal_mike

I imagine this will hinge on how it was sold. If it was sold as a return then it may be unfair to have terms and conditions that say the return can go to any airport. If it was two singles then they are probably within their rights.

Edit: I think peachyprice just answered my query above.

peachyprice

It's covered by these T&C's you agreed to at time of booking:

9.2.1 Except as otherwise provided by the Convention or Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, if we cancel a flight, fail to operate a flight reasonably according to schedule or cease to operate a route, we shall, at your option, either:

9.2.1.1 carry you at the earliest opportunity on another of our scheduled services on which space is available between the same routing points or, alternatively and exceptionally, and subject to specific agreement with you and to the exclusion of any other obligation, arrange for you to travel on one or more of our scheduled flights without making any additional charge either (i) via another airport served by us to your destination airport or (ii) from an alternate airport served by us to your destination airport or (iii) from your airport of origin to an alternate airport served by us within the same country as your original destination or (iv) from an alternate airport served by us to an alternate destination airport within the same country as your original destination; or

9.2.1.2 carry you on the same route to your final destination at a later date at your convenience subject to seat availability; or

9.2.1.3 make a refund in accordance with the provisions of Article 10.2.

and

10.2 INVOLUNTARY REFUNDS

Except as otherwise provided by the Convention or Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004 (click here for the text setting out these rights), if we cancel a flight, fail to operate a flight reasonably according to schedule or cease to operate a route, we shall make a refund to you in respect of each sector shown in the Confirmation/Itinerary which has not been utilised for any of these reasons. The amount of refund shall be equal to the fare paid plus any associated taxes, fees and charges paid.

They only have to get you to the same country and outbound and inbound flight are separate sectors.

Hintza

Exactly what I thought they would have. The only hope would be to argue that that is unfair. But that would cost mega bucks and some!!

jacques_chirac

Hintza wrote: »

Exactly what I thought they would have. The only hope would be to argue that that is unfair. But that would cost mega bucks and some!!

It wouldn't cost much at all, given the amounts involved the OP could argue the point at small claims. Whether they would win or not is another matter

shaun_from_Africa

As Ryanair have their base in Ireland, is it possible to use the UK small claims system to try to get money refunded?

Hintza

jacques_chirac wrote: »

It wouldn't cost much at all, given the amounts involved the OP could argue the point at small claims. Whether they would win or not is another matter

I think this is getting in to the realms of precedent.

Which does beg a question (leaving out the Irish domicile bit for a moment) does Ryanair have to accept the small claims decision if they lost? They would have to fight it.

Although obviously small claims doesn't set precedent it could be the start of the straw that broke the camels back.

frugal_mike

peachyprice wrote: »

It's covered by these T&C's you agreed to at time of booking...They only have to get you to the same country and outbound and inbound flight are separate sectors.

You missed an important part of those terms and conditions:

9.2.1 Except as otherwise provided by the Convention or Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, if we cancel a flight, fail to operate a flight reasonably according to schedule or cease to operate a route, we shall, at your option, either:

9.2.1.1 carry you at the earliest opportunity on another of our scheduled services on which space is available between the same routing points or, alternatively and exceptionally, and subject to specific agreement with you and to the exclusion of any other obligation, arrange for you to travel on one or more of our scheduled flights without making any additional charge either (i) via another airport served by us to your destination airport or (ii) from an alternate airport served by us to your destination airport or (iii) from your airport of origin to an alternate airport served by us within the same country as your original destination or (iv) from an alternate airport served by us to an alternate destination airport within the same country as your original destination; or

9.2.1.2 carry you on the same route to your final destination at a later date at your convenience subject to seat availability; or

9.2.1.3 make a refund in accordance with the provisions of Article 10.2.

So they can only go to a different destination with OPs agreement and OP has the choice of the other options (including waiting for the next available flight at no extra cost), or have I read that wrong?

Obviously the next available flight may be of no use, especially if it means the car parking over-runs.

peachyprice

frugal_mike wrote: »

You missed an important part of those terms and conditions:



So they can only go to a different destination with OPs agreement and OP has the choice of the other options (including waiting for the next available flight at no extra cost), or have I read that wrong?

Obviously the next available flight may be of no use, especially if it means the car parking over-runs.

The 'with your agreement' is a bit of a moot point isn't it. They're not going to run the original flight just because you don't agree!

I'm assuming as that's what they've offered they're not flying to the original UK airport anymore, otherwise they would have simply offered an different flight time, no?

OP, have you been through all the options with them? And you didn't answer, how far apart are the airports? Unless you come back to the thread it's a bit difficult to give you anymore advice.