Ryanair flight refund if FCO advise against travel

Smiggy

I have a flight booked this Saturday 21/3 to Barcelona; Spain has locked down and FCO advise against all but necessary travel so why hasn’t Ryanair cancelled all flights. I don’t want to reschedule, I cannot anyway as was going to football match.  I just want a refund! Surely they have to cancel flights if Spanish gov has locked down. 

sysadmin

i'm in the same boat. 
We have flights booked for 4/4 and return flights for 17/4 to/from Alicante, Spain. 
No mention of refunds and you cant even speak to RyanAir at the moment.... 
If they dont refund, will S75 from the credit card company cover this ?

mashmush

Hi i have flights booked throughout the year so giving me a free change wont work will i be able to get refunds for flights in the coming weeks that wont be advisable to take?

Simster45

:'(  I have the same problem, due to fly on next few days,, Ryanair know that its impossible to go but because they are still taking people back to spain and returning people home then the flight is still on and therefore we cant get a refund as it is not cancelled :-( this is simply robbery and the government need to step in here and get this sorted out.

sysadmin

Would travel insurance cover this ? 

bagand96

If Ryanair operate the flight then you won’t get a refund from them if you have chosen not to travel. You won’t have a section 75 claim against them either because the service you paid for (the flight) was provided, and you elected not to use it.

This is irrespective of FCO Travel advice. That is advice to individuals about whether to travel or not. However it is not a ruling to airlines. It is not a ban on flights. Governments can of course do that if they wish done, and some have done. 

If the FCO are saying not to travel to your destination (and from today that is ALL destinations) then you should be able to claim on your travel insurance. 

It’s worth holding off though until nearer your departure as Ryanair may cancel. The latest information on their website is predicting an 80% fleet grounding, and doesn’t rule out the entire fleet being grounded. If Ryanair cancel then of course you are entitled to a refund. 

Smiggy

I didnt get insurance, usually get it about 1 week before, but too late then as all new policies are void for Coronavirus. I’m thinking S75 too as booked on CC. I despise Ryanair, I’ll never use them again I hope this bankrupts them! They’re clever trying to keep your money by can cancelling flight, what would happen if you took it anyway I’m sure you’d get told to return to uk   

bagand96

Smiggy said:

I didnt get insurance, usually get it about 1 week before, but too late then as all new policies are void for Coronavirus. I’m thinking S75 too as booked on CC. I despise Ryanair, I’ll never use them again I hope this bankrupts them! They’re clever trying to keep your money by can cancelling flight, what would happen if you took it anyway I’m sure you’d get told to return to uk   

Unfortunately not getting travel insurance as soon as you booked is the problem here. If you had done, then you may well be covered now. Travel insurance is not just for when you are away. It covers many eventualities before travelling. 

As a scheduled airline Ryanair will generally operate their schedule where possible.  Keep in mind that there are Spanish people in the UK who may want to get home as well as British people in Spain who want to come back here. 

They could of course offer refunds as a gesture of good will, but there is nothing to force them.  And let’s be honest they are not famed for their service.  For what it’s worth easyJet are operating the same policy right now. There are many airlines at immediate risk of bankruptcy in this crisis, but Ryanair aren’t one of them. 

cinderellasuzie

I got travel I insurance with Ryanair at the time of booking my holiday. The small print excludes claims as a result of not travelling following government advice. If we did travel against government advice it would have invalidated other parts of the insurance so it’s a win win for Ryanair  My flight on 16th March went ahead without me, I could not cancel and the option to rearrange the flight was greyed out so I couldn’t change it. 

I booked through a travel agent but because flight wasn’t cancelled I have lost flight and hotel costs. 

Is anyone else in this situation?

sysadmin

No, but im hoping our insurance will cover us BUT im in a bit of a funny situation.
I have heart diesase so have booked insurance for me with 1 company (as they are better for covering pre-existing conditions) and then another insurance (with a different company) for my wife and kids. Will MY insurance likely cover just MY ticket or will it cover the whole booking?
Am I going to have to contact both insurance companies in this instance? 

Clare2405

We are due to fly tomorrow with Ryanair to Spain. The flight has not been cancelled.
Like the OP, have already booked flights for other holidays (including with Ryanair!) so don't want to use their offer to reschedule.
I have insurance and am covered for a refund, but the excess is £50 per person and the flight cost £61 each, so not worth it.
They are not answering emails and the online chat is down. Have been trying all morning on the phone - twice managed to get onto the queue and each time line went dead after 10 mins!
Looks increasingly likely I will lose several hundred pounds.