Ryanair not budging on Italian flights despite both 16m person quarantine and an FCO warning

gdedman

Hi all,

I'm booked to fly out of Milan Bergamo tomorrow but despite a government lockdown, punishable by fines and prison, AND the FCO travel advisory in place, something that Ryanair have been saying would be the only reason they would cancel flights and offer re-routes/refunds, they refuse to act. 

Other operators using Bergamo (e.g. Wizzair, BA) have cancelled their flights yet every single Ryanair flight remains scheduled.

What on earth are they doing?  Is this a (dangerous) but planned move to prevent losses?  As I have said, all along they claimed they needed an FCO warning in place before acting, this has been in place for 12 hours now and still, all flights are active.

Is anyone else in the same position, or heard anything to the contrary?

At this moment in time, I can not travel into the affected area, so cannot take my flight yet Ryanair will still operate and refuse any refund.  Something doesn't add up.

Caz3121

As FCO state - "British nationals remain able to depart Italy without restriction"
maybe Ryanair are operating more to bring people home that carry people out (airlines cannot win, Easyjet cancel their flights and get accused of leaving Brits stranded) https://metro.co.uk/2020/03/09/easyjet-cancels-flights-italy-leaving-brits-stranded-coronavirus-epicentre-12368167/)
Majority of insurance companies will pay out on FCO advice against travel even if flight is still operating so probably best to claim there
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights/

gdedman

I am a UK citizen, but I do not live in the UK and the flights I have are return, to Madrid. 

Whereas I imagined this could have been the case, that they are trying to fly people home, they are still operating flights INTO the quarantine zone from their whole network. 

This is where my complaint lies.  Their disinterest to act on a rapidly moving virus despite government advice and actually risk making situations worse when other companies, both low fare and other, have taken the sensible decision to cease flying.

Caz3121

has there been official guidance in Spain re travel to Italy?
Easyjet and Air Europa are still offering and selling flights from MAD to MXP this week (Iberia not showing anything till Thursday)
do you have travel insurance?

new MSE article - https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/03/government-warns-against-non-essential-travel-to-more-areas-of-n/

eDicky

gdedman said:

At this moment in time, I can not travel into the affected area, so cannot take my flight yet Ryanair will still operate and refuse any refund.  Something doesn't add up.

Domestic flights and trains are still running in and out of Milan, last I heard. Do you just want a refund, or would you take your flight if possible. You would likely be allowed to pass into the restricted area by showing proof of your passage on a flight that is still scheduled.

bagand96

Don't panic. The Daily Mail are with you!

Daily Mail: Outrage as airlines including BA are STILL operating dozens of flights from North Italy.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8090917/Outrage-airlines-including-BA-operating-dozens-flights-North-Italy.html

Westin

bagand96 said:

Don't panic. The Daily Mail are with you!

Daily Mail: Outrage as airlines including BA are STILL operating dozens of flights from North Italy.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8090917/Outrage-airlines-including-BA-operating-dozens-flights-North-Italy.html

That same newspaper, had airlines just stopped flights, would be running a headline of "Thousands stranded as airlines cancel flights in pandemic hotspot" together with pictures of tearful children and sad faced adults to accompany the article.

bagand96

Westin said:

That same newspaper, had airlines just stopped flights, would be running a headline of "Thousands stranded as airlines cancel flights in pandemic hotspot" together with pictures of tearful children and sad faced adults to accompany the article.

Of course.  The press are the major issue behind all of this. 

The airlines are damned if they do and damned if they don't.  Of course, the governments could take decisive action if they wanted to - but instead they seem happy for the press to keep stirring up the scaremongering.

fifeken

OP can still travel to the airport and fly out if desired.  Sounds like they don't want to fly and hope Ryanair help him achieve this without him losing out.

Rheumatoid

They have budged now but still seem to be flying until the weekend. Not sure how I stand with a flight out tomorrow and a return next Wednesday but will wait and see. Expecting to be offered a refund as they can not honour return trip - unless they expect me to come back on Friday!

thriftylass

gdedman said:

At this moment in time, I can not travel into the affected area, so cannot take my flight yet Ryanair will still operate and refuse any refund.  Something doesn't add up.

Do you have travel insurance, that would sort it. Don't think Ryanair have to refund you as they're still offering the flight. Only once the airline cancelled your flight can you get a refund from them.