Unusual problem

RyanG2

Ryanair have emailed us regarding flights in September we booked in January telling us we cannot have our booking anymore and instead saying refund or flights on different days. The flights have not been cancelled because we know a number of people who are on the flights there and back who have not lost their place. Seems to us they have overbooked and bumped us off with 2 months to spare. Because alternative offered are on different days we cannot now go due to work and will miss the wedding.
Does anyone know if they can do this without compensation?
Thanks

JPears

You have effectively been denied boarding, since the actual flight has not been cancelled and they cannot claim an EC.
Therefore you are due a refund AND compensation.
Note in the regulation there is no time factor like a cancellation.
Suggest you contact Ryanair and suggest they reconsider otherwise they should consider your letter requesting compensation under regulation 261/2004 and regard it as an NBA.
The relevant parts of the regulation:-
Article 4
Denied boarding
1. When an operating air carrier reasonably expects to deny boarding on a flight, it shall first call for volunteers to surrender their reservations in exchange for benefits under conditions to be agreed between the passenger concerned and the operating air carrier. Volunteers shall be assisted in accordance with Article 8, such assistance being additional to the benefits mentioned in this paragraph.
2. If an insufficient number of volunteers comes forward to allow the remaining passengers with reservations to board the flight, the operating air carrier may then deny boarding to passengers against their will.
3. If boarding is denied to passengers against their will, the operating air carrier shall immediately compensate them in accordance with Article 7 and assist them in accordance with Articles 8 and 9.
and
Article 7
Right to compensation
1. Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall receive compensation amounting to:
(a) EUR 250 for all flights of 1500 kilometres or less;
(b) EUR 400 for all intra-Community flights of more than 1500 kilometres, and for all other flights between 1500 and 3500 kilometres;
(c) EUR 600 for all flights not falling under (a) or (b).
In determining the distance, the basis shall be the last destination at which the denial of boarding or cancellation will delay the passenger's arrival after the scheduled time.
2. When passengers are offered re-routing to their final destination on an alternative flight pursuant to Article 8, the arrival time of which does not exceed the scheduled arrival time of the flight originally booked
(a) by two hours, in respect of all flights of 1500 kilometres or less; or
(b) by three hours, in respect of all intra-Community flights of more than 1500 kilometres and for all other flights between 1500 and 3500 kilometres; or
(c) by four hours, in respect of all flights not falling under (a) or (b),
the operating air carrier may reduce the compensation provided for in paragraph 1 by 50 %.
3. The compensation referred to in paragraph 1 shall be paid in cash, by electronic bank transfer, bank orders or bank cheques or, with the signed agreement of the passenger, in travel vouchers and/or other services.
4. The distances given in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be measured by the great circle route method.