Ryanair - change of scheduled flight time and fees

Linsay2905

Hello,
Grateful for any help or tips. Ryanair have changed my flight time a number of times and the latest one means the flight is no longer suitable. The email they sent me says as a result of this time change they are offering customers two options, accept the time change or move your flight for free. It says if I wish to avail myself of the free option, to contact the customer service team. There are no qualifications whatsoever on this 'free option' to move the flight in the email I have. When I phoned customer care they said as the flight change is less than 3 hours, they will only move it for free plus or minus one day, or the very next available flight, which is absolutely useless. Otherwise they want me to pay £180. I explained clearly this is useless for a number of reasons e.g. hotel booking, inability to take different leave suddenly from work etc. I also explained the email does not say that. They responded it's their 'procedures' and 'terms and conditions'. I have checked Ryanair UK terms and conditions and for schedule change, it does not say this at all. When I asked for them to signpost me to where these conditions are that he customer is informed of, they said they didn't know. But I am just getting a continual brick wall. Even when I point out it's technically possible not to apply the fee e.g. they are not doing it now for new bookings as part of the response to covid etc. Still nothing and just I must pay £180 even though they changed the flight. 

Any ideas? The online complaints form is also useless, with minimal characters before you cannot type anymore and by the time they get round to responding, the flight date will have passed. 

Thank you
Linsay

Alan_Bowen

If the change is less than 3 hours many airlines wouldn't give you any options at all and tour operators usually work on a 12 hour time change! Why is the change such a big issue?