Ryanair Flight Change

weaswan

I have a return flight booked with Ryanair for September 25.  The Ryanair app is now indicating that the flights have been re-scheduled to some 8 and 11 hours later.  I want a refund as the flights are no longer suitable.  However I have not received an email from Ryanair confirming the change - this is what opens the door to getting a refund in Ryanair world.  Ryanair are saying an over 5 hours entitles the customer to a refund - but as I have not received an email confirming the flight schedule may change again - maybe back to what they were or indeed any other time. They will therefore not provide a refund and will only confirm 120 days before the flight.  So basically I'm left with a flight but I don't know what time it is departing.  Ryanair's position is the app time is the current expected departure time - but it might change.  And no refund until 120 days before the flight.  

I've never come across this 120 day rule, maybe because I don't usually book so far in advance.  Normally refunds are fairly straight forward for re-scheduled flights.

Any advice on this situation and whether this is covered by any legislation?

Newbie_John

What time is the flight if you were to book now?
Is the 10h time change something that you can't work around?

As odd as it sounds - the flight departure time can change many times between now and Septmeber 2025.
How much have you paid? 
How much do tickets with other airlines cost? 

Odd rule, could you ask them to tell you where is it in their T&C ?

Hoenir

weaswan said:

 So basically I'm left with a flight but I don't know what time it is departing.  

Nor does RyanAir currently it seems. Given it's still over 9 months to go. 4 months seems a reasonable cut-off point. By which time schedules will have been firmed up. 

9.1 Schedules

9.1.1      When we accept your booking, the scheduled flight timings and flight numbers in force at the time will be shown in your booking confirmation or itinerary. The flight timings and flight numbers  shown in your booking confirmation or itinerary may change before scheduled departure.

weaswan

Newbie_John said:

What time is the flight if you were to book now?
Is the 10h time change something that you can't work around?

As odd as it sounds - the flight departure time can change many times between now and Septmeber 2025.
How much have you paid? 
How much do tickets with other airlines cost? 

Odd rule, could you ask them to tell you where is it in their T&C ?

Thanks,

The out flight has changed from 10.00am to 18.00pm
The return flight has changed from 12 (midday) to 23.00pm.

I don't want to work around the time change - they are inconvenient flights for a number of reasons.  If airlines want to change their flights that's up to them - but don't hold the money if they do.   I've not come across the refusal of a refund before.

Cost of return is around £240 although not sure why that is significant to the principle.

Yes I can check the T&C's, and will.  But I suspect it will be a fight with Ryanair whatever.  Basically their premise is if you book before 120 days you don't really know what time your booking for.  

Oh, one error in my original flight is the flights are in July not September - same issue though.

weaswan

Hoenir said:

weaswan said:

 So basically I'm left with a flight but I don't know what time it is departing.  

Nor does RyanAir currently it seems. Given it's still over 9 months to go. 4 months seems a reasonable cut-off point. By which time schedules will have been firmed up. 

9.1 Schedules

9.1.1      When we accept your booking, the scheduled flight timings and flight numbers in force at the time will be shown in your booking confirmation or itinerary. The flight timings and flight numbers  shown in your booking confirmation or itinerary may change before scheduled departure.

Indeed. (Its actually seven months (my error) but same principle).  Call me a sceptic but this leaves airlines scheduling far in advance for popular / prime schedules and then changing them to much less attractive schedules.  I have no problem with airlines changing schedules - just give me my money back if they do.

There is also this:

9.1.2 If we change flight timings or numbers before scheduled departure, we will notify you about these changes by e-mail. We may also notify you by push notification and text message (if you gave us a phone number for this purpose) where these changes occur shortly before scheduled departure. You will be informed of your rights in accordance with clause 9.2 below.

9.2  refers to the Montreal Convention and Passenger Rights Regulations.  

In my case they have changed the schedule (according to the app and chat agent) but not issued an email per cl 9.1.2. .  
 

Caz3121

Schedules/slots for September will still not be fully confirmed and they may change again.
You could gamble that they won't change again, buy other flights and you will be entitled to a refund when notified of the change by email however there is a chance that further changes may result in changes from original time of under 5 hours so no refund due and stuck with 2 lots of flights (note flights on another airline would still be possible to have schedule changes...Summer timetable should start to be firmed up January/February...timetable runs end March to end October)

Newbie_John

weaswan said:

Cost of return is around £240 although not sure why that is significant to the principle.

I've asked mainly to review your options here.
If your flights was £240 and EasyJet flies the same route now for £60 return it would be worth risking buying a new flight and then canceling Ryan when you're allowed, if other flights are around £240 then no point.

Try looking at it as a good thing - your flight just became fully refundable (almost guaranteed) and you also got a permission to move +/- 30 days (not sure on their exact policy) so you can choose more expensive dates like Saturday - Saturday instead of Wednesday - Wednesday etc. Or even if anything happens and you can't go - it'll be free to cancel.

eskbanker

weaswan said:

I have a return flight booked with Ryanair for September 25.  The Ryanair app is now indicating that the flights have been re-scheduled to some 8 and 11 hours later.  I want a refund as the flights are no longer suitable.  However I have not received an email from Ryanair confirming the change - this is what opens the door to getting a refund in Ryanair world.  Ryanair are saying an over 5 hours entitles the customer to a refund - but as I have not received an email confirming the flight schedule may change again - maybe back to what they were or indeed any other time. They will therefore not provide a refund and will only confirm 120 days before the flight.  So basically I'm left with a flight but I don't know what time it is departing.  Ryanair's position is the app time is the current expected departure time - but it might change.  And no refund until 120 days before the flight.  

I've never come across this 120 day rule, maybe because I don't usually book so far in advance.  Normally refunds are fairly straight forward for re-scheduled flights.

Any advice on this situation and whether this is covered by any legislation?

Don't know if you have anything about this in writing, but when a similar issue was raised last month, 90 days was quoted as the window:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6565721/latest-ryanair-scam

bagand96

This is a bit underhand of Ryanair and seems to be a relatively recent thing. Most airlines when a schedule is changed will update their booking systems and then notify already booked passengers. At that point passengers then have any rebooking/cancellation options if applicable.

Now it seems Ryanair make a schedule change, update the booking systems, but deliberately hold off notifying booked passengers, therefore delaying their chance to exercise their rights. Seems nonsense, if they're selling the flight on new times, the schedule has been changed!

OP could risk booking new flights on another airline knowing that eventually Ryanair will notify of the change and offer a refund. Alogjt risk is that Ryanair change the flight time again back within 5 hours so don't offer a refund. It's not a gamble customers shouod be expected to make. 

weaswan

eskbanker said:

weaswan said:

I have a return flight booked with Ryanair for September 25.  The Ryanair app is now indicating that the flights have been re-scheduled to some 8 and 11 hours later.  I want a refund as the flights are no longer suitable.  However I have not received an email from Ryanair confirming the change - this is what opens the door to getting a refund in Ryanair world.  Ryanair are saying an over 5 hours entitles the customer to a refund - but as I have not received an email confirming the flight schedule may change again - maybe back to what they were or indeed any other time. They will therefore not provide a refund and will only confirm 120 days before the flight.  So basically I'm left with a flight but I don't know what time it is departing.  Ryanair's position is the app time is the current expected departure time - but it might change.  And no refund until 120 days before the flight.  

I've never come across this 120 day rule, maybe because I don't usually book so far in advance.  Normally refunds are fairly straight forward for re-scheduled flights.

Any advice on this situation and whether this is covered by any legislation?

Don't know if you have anything about this in writing, but when a similar issue was raised last month, 90 days was quoted as the window:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6565721/latest-ryanair-scam

The Ryanair chat agent quoted 120 days for re-scheduling over 5 hours and 90 days for re-scheduling under 5 hours.

Caz3121

weaswan said:

The Ryanair chat agent quoted 120 days for re-scheduling over 5 hours and 90 days for re-scheduling under 5 hours.

Sounds then like then they will notify those entitled to a refund 120 days before and those that are not entitled to a refund 90 days before.