Ryanair Refund Complaints

DariusDrewe

Does anyone out there know what my legal position is if I choose not to fly on a scheduled trip because the hotel, district and pretty much the entire city you were meant to be staying in effectively 'closes' the day before you were due to catch your plane?

That's what's just happened to me- I was scheduled to head to Gdansk tomorrow, via Ryanair (yes, we all know etc etc) but now all of a sudden the place I was staying in, which is a hotel AND club, has been ordered to close for a minimum of three weeks, and so presumably has everywhere else in the vicinity- so I now see no reason to go or any practical way in which I CAN go. However, when I called them and said 'look, I know you don't issue refunds, but can I please have a voucher instead' all I got was some bimbo telling me that even their vouchers only applied if THEY cancelled, and that all I could do was pay upwards of £35 to change the flight. To which I quite rightly replied, "change it to what, where and when? I have no idea now as to when I will be able to fly again, if ever, and if I change for a later flight now, that too could end up not happening" She didn't seem to give a damn, though, and told me that they weren't even allowed by policy to transfer my call to a higher authority. Other than that, I can complain, apparently, through the website- but she says I don't stand much chance of receiving anything. So, anyone else been in the same boat? Where do I stand? I want my money back!! PS I tried to post this on another page on the news section but it kept bouncing up and down and leaping about the screen like a dervish, so I gave up.

nilanteh

Do you have travel insurance?

bradders1983

You wont get it back from Ryanair, if the flight isnt cancelled. They have fulfilled their contractual requirements. 

DariusDrewe

nilanteh said:

Do you have travel insurance?

Yes, I paid for it as part of the package. Why?

nilanteh

If it covers against travel against fco advice it might be your only way. As previously mentioned Ryanair have no obligation to refund you as the flight is going 

Westin

It does not sound like you have a package holiday so your options will be limited.

Travel insurance may be an option - check and read your policy to see if a way to make a claim. Keep in mind any excess.

Other options are down to the goodwill of the hotel and Ryanair.  For this reason you need to be polite and take a conciliatory approach. Dial down the rhetoric and the "some bimbo" attitude.  That "Bimbo" will be the person standing in between helping you to try and recover your financial exposure, or just dismissing you and moving into the next call in line.

DariusDrewe

Yes, well, obviously I'm not going to use the word 'bimbo' when talking to them, am I? I'm not an idiot. However, their decision makers don't read this page (at least not to my knowledge) so whilst on here, I can call them what I wish as long as it isn't slanderous. As for 'dialling down the rhetoric' - I don't know exactly what makes you think you have a right to comment on my writing style, but I didn't join this site to ask for a critique, merely some impartial legal advice. Not that there was any rhetoric anyway- and even had there been, may I stress once more that this is a public forum, NOT an official complaints page. Please try restricting your answers to the question asked in future, without patronising complete strangers: if you can't do that, I would kindly and respectfully request that you don't reply to me. 

Mrsn

Might I kindly point out that people aren’t likely to give you any help or assistance if you’re going to respond in the way you have in your previous response. If this is how you’re coming across online then I’d imagine it wouldn’t be much different speaking to you on the phone.

It appears this was not booked as a true package therefore you are relying on the good will of others that you have your itinerary booked with, because legally Ryanair were correct in their response to you. In which case you sadly have no rights and many others have lost out over the last few months in the same way you have now.

Realistically your insurance providing it has the right sort of cover will be the way forward to hopefully claim back some of the money.

[Deleted User]

Westin is correct though.  You don't have any rights to anything from Ryanair if the flights go ahead.   Speaking about the poor person who has to give you the 'good' news in derogatory terms is uncalled for.   She is doing her job.    Similarly you don't have to get mad at people who give you advice on here.    People do understand, people will sympathise but at the end of it all, the answer will still be the same i.e. if you have a non refundable booking, choose not to fly and the flight is operational, then you will lose the money.  Not 'bimbo' talk, just fact!

bagand96

@Westin is correct (as are the later posters)

From a legal standpoint.  You entered into a contract with Ryanair for a flight.  They are providing that flight, therefore have no obligation to you otherwise.  If you cannot, or choose not to take the flight, then it would fall under the T&Cs of the contract you have.  Ryanair T&Cs are that a flight is non-refundable.  They have offered you to move the flight, as per the T&Cs you agreed to.

You may be covered under travel insurance, but it would depend on your cover, when it was bought, and when the flight was booked.