Ryanair charge to change flights as less 7 days to depart, despite it being government enforced

10jennyb

Due to depart to Spain on 31 July, government announced late Sat 25 July the change to air bridge now saying no non essential travel. My insurance is now invalid so i can;t fly. Ryanair not cancelling their flights, not sure why so i finally managed to speak to someone today after trying to contact for 36 hours, who has told me that to change my flight out on 31 July i will be charged as its less than 7 days to departure - i explained its not my fault, the government have changed the air bridge. 
Surely Ryanair can not charge you to move your flight when its not your fault? I'm extremely surprised that they've not been told to cancel their flights. How can i claim this change fee back from them? I was advised to complete a contact form but its not guaranteed to refund the fee - anyone had any previous luck with this claim for change fee?

[Deleted User]

10jennyb said:

Due to depart to Spain on 31 July, government announced late Sat 25 July the change to air bridge now saying no non essential travel. My insurance is now invalid so i can;t fly. Ryanair not cancelling their flights, not sure why so i finally managed to speak to someone today after trying to contact for 36 hours, who has told me that to change my flight out on 31 July i will be charged as its less than 7 days to departure - i explained its not my fault, the government have changed the air bridge. 
Surely Ryanair can not charge you to move your flight when its not your fault? I'm extremely surprised that they've not been told to cancel their flights. How can i claim this change fee back from them? I was advised to complete a contact form but its not guaranteed to refund the fee - anyone had any previous luck with this claim for change fee?

 If thy are flying to the destination and you do not wish to fly, regardless of the reason, that's not ther problem and you get no refund. 

10jennyb

But the government have instructed no one to fly their as non essential travel so i can't fly there! Ryanair should be cancelling flights really

[Deleted User]

 But they haven't instructed the airlines not to fly. Neither have a they instructed you, they have advised not to only. 

BDL2

10jennyb said:

Due to depart to Spain on 31 July, government announced late Sat 25 July the change to air bridge now saying no non essential travel. My insurance is now invalid so i can;t fly. Ryanair not cancelling their flights, not sure why so i finally managed to speak to someone today after trying to contact for 36 hours, who has told me that to change my flight out on 31 July i will be charged as its less than 7 days to departure - i explained its not my fault, the government have changed the air bridge. 
Surely Ryanair can not charge you to move your flight when its not your fault? I'm extremely surprised that they've not been told to cancel their flights. How can i claim this change fee back from them? I was advised to complete a contact form but its not guaranteed to refund the fee - anyone had any previous luck with this claim for change fee?

Similar thing happened to my daughter. Five of them due to fly Sun 26, four are key workers, so 2 weeks quarantine not an option but primarily insurance is void as FCO advised them not to travel.  Initially on Sunday they were told by Ryanair they could change the booking to next year.  Then they were told that because they had booked in on-line it had to be changed at the airport. They drove to the airport and were told at the checkin desk that’s not correct and they must wait at least 3 hours after the plane has landed in Alicante, then they can change it online.  Now they are told it’s their fault for not rearranging before the flight and they have lost their money.  Surely it’s time someone took Ryanair to court !!!  I know their flights are cheap but I’m amazed they keep going when they treat their customers like this.

bagand96

10jennyb said:

But the government have instructed no one to fly their as non essential travel so i can't fly there! Ryanair should be cancelling flights really

The government have not instructed anyone not to fly. The FCO have advised against non-essential travel. It's advice not instruction.

As another poster said, the government have not instructed airlines to stop flying. Whilst you might want your flight to be cancelled, what about people who do need the flight? People who live in Spain and want to get home? What about all the people who are in Spain that want to get back to the UK?

You say you have travel insurance.  Why didn't you claim on that? Most policies cover you for cancellation if FCO issue an advisory not to travel. 

10jennyb

Because my booking was made before the FCO announced the air bridge was open,my insurers won't cover me

bradders1983

In which case that is the risk you took, sadly.

starymum

The 7 day ruling is ridiculous how could anyone have foreseen that the FCO would advise against travelling on Saturday, I was due to fly today so was unable to change my flight without paying fees.

BDL2

How many times have we been told not to travel unless you have valid travel insurance.  Once FCO says essential travel only and your travel insurance is not valid then people should not travel.  Therefore Ryanair should either cancel flights or allow you to change your booking.  Any decent company would look after their customers 

bradders1983

BDL2 said:

How many times have we been told not to travel unless you have valid travel insurance.  Once FCO says essential travel only and your travel insurance is not valid then people should not travel.  Therefore Ryanair should either cancel flights or allow you to change your booking.  Any decent company would look after their customers 

It is advice, not an instruction.