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Can't use flights due to funerals, what to do?

Hello All,

Only last week (Wed) we bought (2) return flights to France with Ryanair to visit a friend for a long weekend in a fortnight.
Unfortunately not only a very close family best friend passed away and the funeral has been schedule smack in the middle of our 4 days, we found out today that my friend's father died last night and she's back in the UK to stay with her family.

I have contacted Ryanair who offered to change the flights to something else at least equally expensive or more for a reasonable fee of £30 each way per person admin fee (£120.00).
Our insurance will not cover the flights because the deceased are not OUR family members (although one was like a second father to my boyfriend for nearly 40 years!).

Has anyone got any ideas?
Would the credit card company offer a refund?

Thanks very much

Comments

  • Caz3121
    Caz3121 Posts: 15,876 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    pitry wrote: »
    Would the credit card company offer a refund?

    credit card cover would not help, the flights you purchased are still available for you to take
    I think you meant same price or less for the admin fee changes, if the flights are more you will pay the extra fare difference too, depending on how much the flights are normally, you may be cheaper just buying new flights when you need them and just seeing if you can recoup any taxes back...should be £13 each APD but there may be an admin fee
  • pitry
    pitry Posts: 37 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thanks Caz,
    Ryanair will not allow for us to book any cheaper flights (even without a refund for the difference), but can only re-book same price or more expensive (of course paying the extra) plus the £120.00.

    So the flight selection is greatly reduced, as the going out was £25.99 each and the return was £115.99 each. It means that going out will very likely be more expensive as there aren't many fares for the same amount.

    So total bill is £380 something, we can afford to lose it, but we rather not.......
  • tomtontom
    tomtontom Posts: 7,929 Forumite
    You can change for cheaper flights (with no refund), you can do it all online.
  • pitry
    pitry Posts: 37 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    Thanks Tomtontom,

    I'm trying but the website keeps crashing, but I was told on the phone earlier that it is not possible to do that.
    I'll try again online and see what I can do!
    Thanks
  • jpsartre
    jpsartre Posts: 4,091 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    pitry wrote: »
    I'm trying but the website keeps crashing, but I was told on the phone earlier that it is not possible to do that.

    Either the CSR was mistaken or you misunderstood. You can most defnitely change to a cheaper ticket but you won't get the difference refunded.
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