Flight Cancellations - Financial Implications

Cal_Walker78

I’ve just received an email from Ryanair telling me my flights have been cancelled in the summer ‘for commercial reasons’. They have offered to re-route or refund us but we are not eligible for compensation as it’s greater than 14 days before we fly. 

The only suitable flights for re-routing are flights that we looked at originally and were cheaper than the flights we bought, but we opted for the more expensive flights as they were far more convenient. A complete refund for the flights isn’t really an option as all the flight prices have gone up considerably since we booked many months ago. 

My frustration is that we are effectively being forced onto more inconvenient flights and are having to pay more for them than we would have done if we chose those flights when we originally booked (not too mention added parking and an overnight airport hotel cost to make those flights manageable).

Ryanair unsurprisingly don’t care and have refused any compensation even though they agree I will be out of pocket compared if I booked the more inconvenient flights to start with. 

I suspect I’m just stuck and there’s nothing I can do, but this feels wholly unfair as Ryanair are cancelling the flights as they are not profitable yet I will be left several hundreds of pounds out of pocket.

I just wondered if anyone has been in a similar situation and has any advice? Thank you!

bagand96

If the alternative flights are Ryanair they will move you into them without cost to yourself. If the alternative flights are another airline you can book them and claim the difference in cost from Ryanair as is your right under EC261. 

Cal_Walker78

Thanks, the only suitable flights are with Ryanair. They are really badly timed (5am departure) and would have been £100 cheaper than the flights we booked if we’d booked these orginally but now are more expensive than our original flights so getting a refund doesn’t help.  

eskbanker

Cal_Walker78 said:

The only suitable flights for re-routing are flights that we looked at originally and were cheaper than the flights we bought, but we opted for the more expensive flights as they were far more convenient. A complete refund for the flights isn’t really an option as all the flight prices have gone up considerably since we booked many months ago. 

My frustration is that we are effectively being forced onto more inconvenient flights and are having to pay more for them than we would have done if we chose those flights when we originally booked (not too mention added parking and an overnight airport hotel cost to make those flights manageable).

Ryanair unsurprisingly don’t care and have refused any compensation even though they agree I will be out of pocket compared if I booked the more inconvenient flights to start with. 

I can understand why you'd prefer to use the price when making the original booking as a benchmark, but what's the difference between the refund and the current price for the alternative flights?

Cal_Walker78

Thanks eskbanker. The re-rerouted flights would be £600 more than the refund if I booked them now. But would have been £600 less than what I paid if I’d booked them for the original booking. On top of that I’ll have to pay for airport hotels and additional parking to make the logistics of the trip work.

I expect there’s nothing I can do but feels really irritating that Ryanair prioritising their profits will leave me hundreds of pounds out of pocket (when I tried to be organised and book early so I can have an affordable holiday with my family).

eskbanker

Cal_Walker78 said:

My frustration is that we are effectively being forced onto more inconvenient flights and are having to pay more for them than we would have done if we chose those flights when we originally booked (not too mention added parking and an overnight airport hotel cost to make those flights manageable).

bagand96 said:

If the alternative flights are Ryanair they will move you into them without cost to yourself.

Cal_Walker78 said:

Thanks, the only suitable flights are with Ryanair. They are really badly timed (5am departure) and would have been £100 cheaper than the flights we booked if we’d booked these orginally but now are more expensive than our original flights so getting a refund doesn’t help.  

Just to be clear, are Ryanair prepared to reroute you on the less convenient flights without charging any more for them, i.e. as a straight swap from your current booking?  I take your point about other costs incurred, but realistically there isn't going to be any way of getting Ryanair to stump up for those, although your travel insurance might?

Barkin

Cal_Walker78 said:

I’ve just received an email from Ryanair telling me my flights have been cancelled in the summer ‘for commercial reasons’. 

[...] 

I just wondered if anyone has been in a similar situation and has any advice? Thank you!

Yup, exactly the same email from Ryanair a couple of days ago.

Proably doesn't help you, but we rebooked flights to go/return a day later than planned. The airbnb host was fine with shifting it all back a day, and the airport parking change didn't incur any extra cost.

All done on my phone, from my sofa, in less than 10 minutes.