Ryanair- disappointment

ARD

Last month I had booked a return flight to Mallorca and realised 3 days before I was due to fly out that I had booked the wrong return flight home. This turned out to be a nightmare to sort out, and daylight robbery!
I was at work when I realised the mistake so I could not use the online chat to sort out the problem, and also I was rather anxious to sort out the problem promptly because the actual flight I wanted to be on only had two seats available- so I didn't want to lose out on a seat. I rang customer services and the first person I spoke to sounded like a pre-programmed robot. He showed no care to my situation, and when he told me how much it cost and I told him that was an extortionate amount he said he couldn't do anything. I pushed him to refer me to a more senior colleague, he hesitated and then told me it could be hours before I would hear from his senior colleague.
Well it was 10 minutes when I got a call back (so well done Ryanair on their prompt response). The chap I spoke to suggested that I have my return flight refunded and then purchase the flight I need to avoid paying the admin fee to change my flight which would hopefully reduce costs. A few minutes into this call the line went dead. Not sure if it was me or him, bottom line he rang me on a withheld number so I couldn't call him back, and he never called me back- I waited 10 minutes, but anxious to get one of those last two seats I rang Ryanair.
The third person I spoke to, equally robot sounding, didn't understand my situation and referred me to the Ryanair website to sort out my problem, it took him a little while to understand what I was saying as I was unable to sort anything out on the website a message kept popping up to ring the number I had rung.
Again, anxious to sort out my flight I begrudgingly paid the amount to sort out my flight, really feeling like I had been robbed! I sent a letter a day later to the Dublin address for Ryanair to detail the poor customer service I had and bemoan how much I had to pay to change a flight (I'd understand if that extra I had paid meant I got a seat in first class!!!!- oh yeah, that doesn't exist on a Ryanair flight!). But it doesn't stop there....at the end of November I received my phone bill (please remember I was at work, could not use web chat, couldn't book the amended flight online because the website wouldn't let me, and I had to make the phone calls using my mobile)...the calls to Ryanair amounted to just short of £12- which makes my blood boil when I add up how much I paid to amend my flight, the cost of posting my letter and now the phone bill.
And yet I have had no response from Ryanair (to this day) about my letter. Can anyone suggest how I get Ryanair to speak to me without me spending money trying to contact them?

glentoran99

Try resolver

Bogalot

If you'd paid the change fee on the first call you'd have had no further problems.

If you used the 0330 number you wouldn't have ended up with a big phone bill.

What would you like your complaint to achieve?

Caz3121

Unfortunately you have learnt the lesson of checking and double checking your flights and dates. Ryanair even allow for changes within 24 hours of booking for date errors but once you go past that time you are stuck with the fare rules.
You then have 2 choices - pay the change fee plus fare difference or purchase a new ticket. Often the latter is cheaper so worth doing the sums first. After 24 hours from booking there is no other option to change the flight apart from paying.
I am not sure why Ryanair referenced getting a refund on a ticket as their flights are non-refundable this was maybe a reference to taxes.
full details here https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/useful-info/help-centre/faq-overview/Flight-Changes-And-Refunds#0-2

eDicky

ARD wrote: »

Can anyone suggest how I get Ryanair to speak to me without me spending money trying to contact them?

Unfortunately there's nothing more for them to talk to you about, and it's not clear what you are still expecting. You made the mistake on your booking and didn't notice until fares had increased considerably on your required date, and the CS explained everything correctly even if they were unable to express much sympathy. Did you take the advice offered by the 'senior colleague' to cancel (there would be no refund apart from APD) and rebook?

leylandsunaddict

So you didn't once log into your booking inbetween booking and 3 days prior to departure? How would you have known if the flight times had changed, or the flight had been cancelled. You can't rely on an airline telling you. Emails go astray or get stuck in spam filters.

Do you seriously expect an airline to let people rectify their mistakes free of charge, never mind a few days before departure? You knew what the change fees were before you booked, and before you rang them, or you would have done if you'd have read the T&Cs you agreed to.

There's a local rate number for post booking queries listed on their website, but you obviously didn't bother looking for the phone numbers either.

Do you expect them to refund you? I hope not, because you'll have a long wait, and a hard time proving why they should.

DCFC79

I dont know if a number is available on weq4u but it could have been an option for you.

Yes theres additional costs involved when changing a ticket.

Why didnt you double and triple check the return flight time/date before you bought the tickets. A lesson learned check what your buying.

PeacefulWaters

I madeva mistake and it's everybody else's fault.

peachyprice

glentoran99 wrote: »

Try resolver

For what? Advice on how to read T&C's?

jpsartre

Another complaint where "poor customer service" is code for "wouldn't bend the rules to rectify a mistake I made".

ARD

Thank you to the varied replies, particularly the helpful people. I realised I had made a mistake, I was not after a refund, I do not use "poor customer service" because I can't admit I made a mistake, I do not blame everyone else for mistakes I may make...such comments from the likes above are judgmental and not appropriate.