Chaos - Flight moved, then cancelled, then uncancelled but we'd rebooked

Brackenfield

It's been ages since I posted but I'm unsure where to start with this....it's a bit of an odd one.

We flew Manchester to Bologna, due to return Saturday 15th July with Ryanair.

13th July, very late in the evening Ryanair sent a notification they'd moved our flight to Forli  - we had a hire car so thought that's fine (and they would honour reasonable costs incurred it noted)

13th July even later we received an email to say our flight was cancelled.  We both had to be back at work on the 17th so we stayed up late looking for a new flight from Forli or Bologna but didn't see any availability so we booked a flight from Pisa to Manchester on Sunday 16th July and extended our car parking at Manchester airport.

14th July we got up to a retraction email saying 'sorry your flight is still going from Forli' 
So now we have 2 sets of return flights and extra parking outlaid.  Given our need to be back at work on the Monday and thinking we were totally screwed if they again cancelled the Forli flight we booked a hotel in Pisa and extended our hire car intending to stick with the Pisa flight.  So we've paid out a fair bit for an extra 18 hours in Italy.

The flight from Forli did go on Sat 15th , about an hour late and we did catch our flight from Pisa on the Sunday.  

We booked the new flights/extended parking thinking our flight was cancelled and booked the extra hotel and hire car knowing our original flight might go.... are we able to claim any costs back do you think?

bagand96

Interesting one.

I would start by arguing that once you have been notified of a cancellation it is then perfectly reasonable for you to make alternative arrangements (if Ryanair offered none).  If they subsequently "retract" their cancellation that isn't your problem.  I'd therefore claim for the replacement flight from Pisa and accommodation from Ryanair.

Ryanair may not agree with you of course but that's where I'd start.  Could also consider claiming for EC261 cancellation compensation.  Might be more tricky as the flight did go.  What was the reason for cancellation? An issue at Bologna Airport, given that they moved the flight to Forli?

Brackenfield

Thanks for your comment Bagand96, I tried to get Ryanair on the chat and couldn't and I actually emailed them asking for a refund of the Forli to Manchester flight - of course, no response.  I'm happy to bear some of the cost but I don't feel it's reasonable to bear it all.  

I'm not sure the notification says why the move of flight (phone has died) but there were staff strikes that Saturday affecting Ryanair and it's one of the main reasons we kept the Sunday flight. We booked everything on credit card and have travel insurance too if it gives an additional options?

bagand96

Have you filled in the Ryanair form? https://onlineform.ryanair.com/gb/en/eu-261

I expect them to push back initially because the flight did operate. So you may have to attach proof of the cancellation notification. 

Note that when your flight is cancelled you are entitled to your choice of re-routing or a refund. It's one or the other, so you don't really want a refund of Forli - Manchester, you want your re-routing costs. 

When you were first notified of the BLQ-MAN cancellation did you log into your Ryanair booking to see if any alternatives were available? They say you should do that first.

Brackenfield

I haven't filled in the form but will now....  we went straight on the app to see what flights were available, nothing from Forli or Bologna over the following few days.  I don't think I actually said but the Pisa to Manchester flight was with Ryanair too.

And the flight was initially moved 'due to Italian Air Traffic Control strike and Local airport providers (external ground handling) strike on 15 July'