Ryanair refund less than paid due to exchange rate

sarah194

I recently cancelled a Ryanair flight due to a schedule change, which I originally paid in Euros. However when I looked at my bank statement the amount refunded in GBP was lower than I paid, presumably due to changes in the exchange rate. I have queried this with Ryanair but I'm not holding my breath since as far as they're concerned they've refunded the amount I paid.

I always pay in Euros in such instances (as the exchange rate is better, and as MSE encourages!) but it's now made me think twice as should there be a need to get my money back I'm concerned I could lose out again. I was wondering has anyone else come across this and/or have any suggestions for what to do about it? Is it just a risk you have to accept when not paying in your native currency?

aerostar

On the other hand you could have won!! and you obviously would not send the extra back.

It is a risk you take with ALL foreign currency transactions.

PeacefulWaters

The refund should be in the currency you've paid with.

Some you win ...

richardw

What percentage is the difference?

sarah194

About 13% less (paid £82 and got back £71). But I bought the flights last December and refund was issued in May so I suppose that's just the markets in that time. It's not a mega amount of money so that's not so much the issue (and to a degree, I'm glad I've learned when the amounts at stake aren't higher).

I guess that the decision to "always" pay in local currency should be done with the knowledge and acceptance that it is a risk should you need to seek a refund (and while it might sound obvious I'm sure there are others like me who just didn't think about it and then get caught out).

PeacefulWaters

sarah194 wrote: »

About 13% less (paid £82 and got back £71). But I bought the flights last December and refund was issued in May so I suppose that's just the markets in that time. It's not a mega amount of money so that's not so much the issue (and to a degree, I'm glad I've learned when the amounts at stake aren't higher).

I guess that the decision to "always" pay in local currency should be done with the knowledge and acceptance that it is a risk should you need to seek a refund (and while it might sound obvious I'm sure there are others like me who just didn't think about it and then get caught out).

Will it still buy you the same amount of Ryanair flight is, perhaps, what it would boil down to.

I got lucky with a booking where payment involved a small deposit in Euros. When it came to clearing the balance in Euros the Sterling cost was about £300 cheaper.