Ryanair - Ireland New Year Booking 18 December 2021 at 8:47AM in Coronavirus travel help & info 11 replies 293 views

benp1994

Hi All.

I’m just looking for some advice as for what myself, my partner and another couple who have booked to travel to Dublin for New Year (Hotel booked separately via Booking.com and can be cancelled …) can do!

We are due to travel on the 30th December, and due to current changes in Irish COVID restrictions, no longer wish to travel. Ryanair’s current change policy allows me to change for free (paying the difference in fare) but only until the 31st December … Hardly helpful right?

Therefore, the only option i’ve been presented with after speaking to their Customer Support Live Chat team online is to pay £40 per passenger change fee, each way - A total of £320 … It’s actually cheaper to re-book the flights than to change (But obviously that would mean that i’ve lost the £400 that i’ve already paid, making for a very expensive trip to Dublin).

Can someone please help us, or any ideas with what we can do (Aside from hoping for some sort of lockdown which bans international travel, we’re completely out of ideas)!

Thanks in advance for any help!!!

Caz3121

I think you have summed up your options, other airlines have been more generous with waivers but Ryanair have been consistent throughout. (As many have learnt to their cost)
if there is some sort of ban on travel you would be looking to your travel insurance policy unless Ryanair cancel the flights. (And many policies would not cover)

cx6

You only hope is the Ryanair cancel the flights.

munchpot

As many people have seen over the last 18 months if Ryanair don't cancel the flight then they do not need to refund you.

From what other forums have said it seems that it's cheaper for Ryanair to fly an empty plane rather than go through the cost of refunding everyone as they still have the costs associated with the flight to pay

serg85

I have a I have a similar situation as I was due to fly to Gran Canaria tomorrow and I recently got covid and won’t recover in time. My overall journey includes 3 legs and luggage, so an overall costly affair. It doesn’t appear Ryainair would accept Covid as an excuse not to travel or issue a refund. So I’m having to pay around £135 in change fees where some new flight options I looked at are actually cheaper than the original, but it doesn’t seem to factor that in. Very frustrating. Going to try via my insurance, but this is a really poor approach and have learned it the hard way 

Caz3121

Whilst other airlines may have allowed you to cancel for future credit/voucher (not refund) in the situation. Ryanair have been consistent throughout the pandemic that no vouchers/refunds if the flight operates. (the rules would have been made clear when you booked)
Travel insurance would be the correct route in the event of not being able to use non-refundable tickets (assuming your policy covers the situation)

mattyprice4004

serg85 said:

I have a I have a similar situation as I was due to fly to Gran Canaria tomorrow and I recently got covid and won’t recover in time. My overall journey includes 3 legs and luggage, so an overall costly affair. It doesn’t appear Ryainair would accept Covid as an excuse not to travel or issue a refund. So I’m having to pay around £135 in change fees where some new flight options I looked at are actually cheaper than the original, but it doesn’t seem to factor that in. Very frustrating. Going to try via my insurance, but this is a really poor approach and have learned it the hard way 

How is it poor? You got ill, that's not Ryanair's fault and they shouldn't be expected to change everything due to this. 

People often slate Ryanair but as above, they've always been the same throughout the pandemic - if the flight operates you're not entitled to a refund etc. 

Westin

serg85 said:

I have a I have a similar situation as I was due to fly to Gran Canaria tomorrow and I recently got covid and won’t recover in time. My overall journey includes 3 legs and luggage, so an overall costly affair. It doesn’t appear Ryainair would accept Covid as an excuse not to travel or issue a refund. So I’m having to pay around £135 in change fees where some new flight options I looked at are actually cheaper than the original, but it doesn’t seem to factor that in. Very frustrating. Going to try via my insurance, but this is a really poor approach and have learned it the hard way 

I understand your disappointment but this was a risk (catching covid and unable to travel) you must have known about when you booked your flights. You wisely bought travel insurance - hopefully with cover for such eventualities.

RyanAir are not at blame for this.

serg85

I think you guys missed the point. The fact that Ryanair are now asking me to pay £45 to change each one of the 3 flights booked and wouldn’t even cover the difference whereby the future flights are much cheaper than the current ones is what is poor about the airline/experience. There is no logic to this and no common sense is applied. Obviously it’s not Ryainair’s fault I fell ill, but the mere lack of any sympathy to at least waive some of the change fees is what’s exactly wrong with them and those who agree they aren’t at fault. 

JGB1955

serg85 said:

I think you guys missed the point. The fact that Ryanair are now asking me to pay £45 to change each one of the 3 flights booked and wouldn’t even cover the difference whereby the future flights are much cheaper than the current ones is what is poor about the airline/experience. There is no logic to this and no common sense is applied. Obviously it’s not Ryainair’s fault I fell ill, but the mere lack of any sympathy to at least waive some of the change fees is what’s exactly wrong with them and those who agree they aren’t at fault. 

I don't think anyone has missed the point.  If you had broken your leg and couldn't travel would you expect Ryanair to offer you a free change of flight?  That's why you take out travel insurance....

onashoestring

@serg85  - sorry to hear you are not well. 

As others have said these are the T& C’s of your Ryanair booking. 

Lots of people complain about Ryanair’s T& Cs but continue to choose to book with them despite the fact that they charge a fee for flight changes.
Airlines do not have to offer a refund unless they cancel the flight . 

You chose a provider who charges a fee for flight changes . 

Some like Easy jet offer fee free flight changes and BA offer a voucher for future travel . 

All is not lost as your travel insurance is an option as you have tested positive ( providing you selected a policy that that covers unrecouped costs from cancelling your holiday if you’re diagnosed with Covid-19.)