Ryanair FREE flight change 2020

Jimmus

Having booked a flight a couple weeks ago for mid August and wanting to cancel my booking IN ADVANCE before i've used the ticket, I am being told that this is not possible 'we do not have a cancellation policy'.

Having spent several hours over the past fortnight in online chat queues (still not seen an agent), i decided to PHONE ryanair.

After FIFTY minutes in a queue I got through to their call center. 

The agent told me that:
* I cannot change the flight to next year
* I cannot get a refund
* I cannot get vouchers

My only options were:
* Skip the flight and suck up the £500 loss (kids not seen their Grandad since Xmas)
* Accept the FREE flight change PROMOTION Ryanair are offering if you change your flights to a later date in 2020

The support rep started looking for dates this October then hung up LOL. Not only did this take over an hour of my day but I expect a HUGE mobile phone bill is coming my way.

Accessing this 'flight change promotion' online? Looking in my Ryanair account, if I use the only flight change tool to change the dates of the flight to a date later this year, I am being charged £200 for the priviledge.

Does anyone know:
* If I can lawfully get my money back on a 'confirmed' flight ticket that I have yet to actually use? (can't they resell it?)
* Am I able to get a chargeback or similar, is there some other protection?
* How I access this free 'flight change promotion' online without having to call support again?
* Is there any way to claim back the call costs when their agent HUNG UP and didn't complete the request?

Lot's of questions, quite frustrated, just want to visit Grandad before this virus gets him. 

bagand96

Jimmus said:

Does anyone know:
* If I can lawfully get my money back on a 'confirmed' flight ticket that I have yet to actually use? (can't they resell it?)

Ryanair bookings are non-refundable.  In line with most airlines.

Jimmus said:

* Am I able to get a chargeback or similar, is there some other protection?

No.  Chargeback will only help if the merchant fails to provide the goods or services that you've paid for.  If Ryanair cancel the flight, you're entitled to a refund.  If the flight goes ahead, you have no right to a refund or chargeback.

Jimmus said:

* How I access this free 'flight change promotion' online without having to call support again?

You have accessed the flight change in MyRyanair.  The offer of a free change is only the flight change fee being waived.  If the new flights are more expensive than your original flights, you'll have to pay the difference.  Perhaps that's where the £200 is coming from?

Caz3121

Information on changing flights is supplied here
https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/useful-info/no-change-fee#!
there was no need to phone Ryanair and incur call costs. The information re flights being non-refundable and the rules were given to you when you booked 

Jimmus

OK thanks all. That's very disappointing but i'm not going to let this ruin my weekend. £500 will come back again after some more graft. Won't be using ryanair again though, although that means very little to them as I only ever used them once a year. 
I'll go and swear now and throw a few things at a wall.

[Deleted User]

Ryanair are fine for cheap flights so long as you read the terms and conditions you agree to.   If you agree to buy and then try to invent your own t’s it won’t wash with them.   They don’t get emotionally involved 😂.   They are providing a service which you no longer wish to take so they aren’t actually at fault.   Hope the crockery has survived 😝