Ryanair nightmare

kayelliott70

I’m sure there are dozens of posts like these but looking for some guidance please.  We booked four flights to Portugal in January 2021 (pre pandemic) for July.  We didn’t want to travel so swallowed hard and paid £360 change fee and about £100 extra per flight to change to July 2021.  Here we are a week before we are due to fly with Portugal an amber country so requirement to isolate after we travel.  We can’t do this so contacted Ryanair to change flights. After days and hours waiting to get to speak to someone online.  No flights available at July 2022 so advice is to change to an available flight and then change again once the flights we require are released.  This will cost us £360 each change as original flights booked before June 2022. Tried to complain via the Ryanair webpage but even that is redirected to information pages.  Frustrated beyond belief.  Does anyone have any advice please?

[Deleted User]

It's either pay for the changes, claim on your insurance if covered, or cut your losses and let the flights go.

Westin

" We booked four flights to Portugal in January 2021 (pre pandemic) for July. "

Would that not be 11 months into a pandemic and when it was known how the situation worldwide was changing constantly and any travel would be subject to possible disruption?

I think zx81 has summarised your options.  Or, perhaps look to change the flight to later THIS year.

Caz3121

I think the OP meant they originally booked in January 2020 for July 2020 then paid to change to July 2021...and now they are choosing not to travel due to self-isolation or return (which may or may not be in place at time of return depending if they are vaccinated)

KayBur

It seems to me that the best thing would be to cancel the reservation, and then buy tickets for those dates when you are sure that you can go on a trip. Transport companies cannot constantly meet you halfway and reschedule flights or travel dates whenever you want.

Upsidedownandaround

What is it you actually want Ryanair to do?

They have explained your options. You either don't fly and lose the flights or you move them again to another date.

kayelliott70

Sorry my error booked flights January 2020 when there was no hint of a pandemic!!!! I changed flights to this year understanding I needed to pay a change fee of almost £400.  My point is it seems unfair that we have to pay two flight changes again through no fault of our own to get flights changed to next year when anyone else who booked flights during the pandemic gets free flight changes! 

Mrsn

But it’s also not Ryanair’s fault either I’m afraid, as has been said many times on other posts if the service is available for you to use then there is little that can be done other than the options you have already been given.

I completely get your frustration really I do however restrictions/entry requirements for your destination has never been the responsibility of the airlines so I do see their stance on this.

Upsidedownandaround

kayelliott70 said:

Sorry my error booked flights January 2020 when there was no hint of a pandemic!!!! I changed flights to this year understanding I needed to pay a change fee of almost £400.  My point is it seems unfair that we have to pay two flight changes again through no fault of our own to get flights changed to next year when anyone else who booked flights during the pandemic gets free flight changes! 

It may not be fair but unfortunately these are the terms and conditions you agreed to.

Ryanair haven't waived the flight change costs for post pandemic bookings out of the goodness of their heart it's to generate more bookings.

If you think they are going make an exception to the terms you agreed to on the basis that you think it's unfair then I think you will be wasting your time.

isplumm

kayelliott70 said:

I’m sure there are dozens of posts like these but looking for some guidance please.  We booked four flights to Portugal in January 2021 (pre pandemic) for July.  We didn’t want to travel so swallowed hard and paid £360 change fee and about £100 extra per flight to change to July 2021.  Here we are a week before we are due to fly with Portugal an amber country so requirement to isolate after we travel.  We can’t do this so contacted Ryanair to change flights. After days and hours waiting to get to speak to someone online.  No flights available at July 2022 so advice is to change to an available flight and then change again once the flights we require are released.  This will cost us £360 each change as original flights booked before June 2022. Tried to complain via the Ryanair webpage but even that is redirected to information pages.  Frustrated beyond belief.  Does anyone have any advice please?

Exactly what date are you going - cause if from 19th July then no need to self isolate on return

sheramber

Unless fully vaccinated you have to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in Portugal.