Not entitled to refund on ryanair flights

martin_delaney9

HI,
Reaching out for advice as current predicament is making me really anxious about why I will lose out on nearly £800.
Due to go to Spain on the 14th on a holiday booked through Onthebeach.
Due to current government guidance I am accepting that the holiday is not likely to happen.
However I can't physically contact onthebeach by email or phone as they have blocked customers contacting unless they are within 7 days of departure.

My worry is what is stated on their travel advice which will mean I will lose my flight money if I don't go because Ryanair are deciding to fly against government advice and not cancelling flights.
I would very much like to go on holiday however realistically it just isn't likely as we would have to self isolate on return.

I can't understand for the life of me how Ryanair are in a position to put customers through this knowing that they are potentially putting customer's at risk.

Where do I stand anyone?
The holiday is ATOl protected.

bradders1983

There is no government advice telling airlines not to fly, by the way.

Thrugelmir

martin_delaney9 said:

I can't understand for the life of me how Ryanair are in a position to put customers through this knowing that they are potentially putting customer's at risk.

People choose to take the risk. Personal responsibility is what it says on the tin.  

martin_delaney9

Wouldn't class booking this holiday back in October last year as taking a risk..
The government are telling people not to travel , risk spread of covid cases and put lives in danger.
So taking their advice to not put my family in danger your implying that I need to take personal responsibility for the loss.
Good one 

bagand96

Ryanair flights are non-refundable so if it flies, their position is that no refund is due. As said above, the government haven't banned airlines from flying. 

If you've booked flights and accommodation together with OnTheBeach then you have a package under the Package and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. 

Now, the Regulations don't specifically state that you should be able to cancel a holiday if FCO advice is not to travel. What they do say is you can cancel if  "unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances" occur which "significantly affect the performance of the package"

It seems to be down to interpretation on whether Covid-19 meets that or not. Some agents don't think so. However ABTA have said agents should refund, and OTB are ABTA members. 

You'll likely have a fight on your hands though getting OTB to cancel and refund you, as it would be them taking the hit on the lost flight money. 

martin_delaney9

bagand96 said:

Ryanair flights are non-refundable so if it flies, their position is that no refund is due. As said above, the government haven't banned airlines from flying. 

If you've booked flights and accommodation together with OnTheBeach then you have a package under the Package and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018. 

Now, the Regulations don't specifically state that you should be able to cancel a holiday if FCO advice is not to travel. What they do say is you can cancel if  "unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances" occur which "significantly affect the performance of the package"

It seems to be down to interpretation on whether Covid-19 meets that or not. Some agents don't think so. However ABTA have said agents should refund, and OTB are ABTA members. 

You'll likely have a fight on your hands though getting OTB to cancel and refund you, as it would be them taking the hit on the lost flight money. 

Thanks for that..Instead of the sarcastic nonsense above.

bradders1983

No sarcasm in my post, Martin. Do you think Ryanair flights are full of British tourists?

mattyprice4004

A friend of mine has been using Ryanair to get to work and back in Spain - he has to hop between here and there because a family member is ill (and has been for longer than the COVID crisis). 

It's not all tourists; business trips, commutes etc are all reasons people need to fly.
Sadly if the flight is going and you choose not to fly, then no refund is due. 

Tucker

Are you able quarantine without too much issue or you just don't want to? 
Myself and partner are recently back from Spain and both work from home, so we went. 
Out there it's taken far more seriously than here with precautions.
The only reason they have a problem there is the style of living with most in apartment blocks and all using the same access doors / lifts etc. 
We had a great time and the airport was empty, as was the flight. I had 6 extra leg seats to myself. 
We got insurance via staysure that covered us for all but covid despite the fco advice about Spain.