another ryanair ramble

Smokeyone

Hello

I booked return flights from Stansted to Poznan in early December - out on January 20 returning the next day January 21.

A while later in December the return flight was cancelled so I visited the website and I am almost sure it said I could book any available flight/date/route...

Anyways I had a think and retumed to the website a few days later to make a reservation - however the system had now automatically booked me a flight to Stansted

on January 20 - the same day as I am flying out of Stansted - in fact I am booked Poznan Stansted (for a whole 20 minutes) and back to Poznan.

I got in touch the the agent chat box - number 401 in the queue but after 40 minutes I was in touch with an agent who said they could only amend my flight by a day or so otherwise - claim a refund -

Went to the refund link - completed all the sections for my cancelled January 21 flight and the message said they could not offer a refund as my flight was not cancelled -

I have also tried to amend the flight online but the system will not allow that...

I give up - it's the second Ryanair flight I have lost through their cancellations - now flying with another airline back from Poznan..

Maybe do not book Ryanair until you are close to your departure date and book two singles rather than a return so that you have two reference numbers-

CKhalvashi

Booking 2 singles will only complicate the matter further.

I don't fly with Ryanair out of principal, but have flown the other airline you mention to/from Poznan without issues. Ryanair's re-booking system was never the easiest to use and it looks like this is still the case.

It may be worth pushing this as the flight was cancelled, but ultimately it's likely to come down to your word against theirs. The other airline you've booked is much more flexible when it comes to cancellations, so you'll likely be a lot happier with them in any event.

Smokeyone

You are probably correct in avoiding Ryanair but Stansted is convenient.
Lufthansa fly to Poznan via Frankfurt and for the time being changing flights is really easy on their website.
Wizzair from Luton or maybe KLM via Amsterdam are other options.
Ryanair is the only airline where I have lost out owing to cancellations - no other airlines

CKhalvashi

Smokeyone said:

You are probably correct in avoiding Ryanair but Stansted is convenient.
Lufthansa fly to Poznan via Frankfurt and for the time being changing flights is really easy on their website.
Wizzair from Luton or maybe KLM via Amsterdam are other options.
Ryanair is the only airline where I have lost out owing to cancellations - no other airlines

Stansted is more convenient for me too, but that I'm willing to slog to Luton to avoid flying with Ryanair probably tells you a lot.

No problems with Wizz so far (except spending time in Krakow due to them cancelling a flight, haven't dint the city yet so don't really mind) and I doubt there will be in the future either.

bagand96

Is there a chance that when you first looked at the reservation after receiving the cancellation notification that you inadvertantly accepted the proposed return flight on the same day?  I only say this because when I've had Ryanair cancellations in the past I've found it very straightforward to ammend or cancel for a refund. 

Unfortunately with the ever changing restrictions airline schedules are up in the air and subject to late changes across all carriers. 

I agree with @CKhalvashi though that it is worth you persuing with Ryanair as your flight was cancelled so you are due a refund for both sectors.

Smokeyone

It is possible that I  inadvertantly  accepted the proposed changes but I do not think so. It happened once before with a cancelled Ryanair flight! However maybe just closing the web page without deciding is enough to accept the change.
I am slogging back from Luton on my January trip but in the past I have flown BA to Berlin and taken the train across the border to Poznan - actually I get off the train before Poznan and a friend meets me.

sueb20

I've just received an email from Ryanair for a flight time change (not until next April)

 The email is designed to make you click on the big yellow button (that actually says accept changes but written in white on a bright yellow background) I could see how someone would be mislead by this. Especially viewing an email on a mobile. 

CKhalvashi

sueb20 said:

I've just received an email from Ryanair for a flight time change (not until next April)

 The email is designed to make you click on the big yellow button (that actually says accept changes but written in white on a bright yellow background) I could see how someone would be mislead by this. Especially viewing an email on a mobile. 

That wouldn't surprise me at all.

In this case (screenshot from you would be appreciated for OP's benefit) it's likely OP has done this. While in normal times for passengers with flexibility it will be helpful, on this occasion it looks like it is not for OP.