Ryanair flight cancelled due to strike action.

pthompson

My Milan-London flight was cancelled by Ryanair and as they didn't have a suitable alternative I booked overnight stay and a flight with another airline. 

They said I'm not eligible for compensation as it was "Disruption caused by an external strike action, which was beyond our control". 

I understand that EU261 is on their side re compensation, but are they at least responsible for refunding my hotel/flight expenses?

Westin

When making a claim don’t mix up ‘compensation’ with their duty of care and obligations under Eu261/Uk261 for a cancellation.

Did Ryanair offer an alternative flight within a reasonable time period?

pthompson

They offered me a flight 24 hours later, but that wasn't useful for me as I had to get back for work.  So I had no choice but to book with another airline.   Is Ryanair responsible for refunding my expenses (new flight with a different airline + overnight stay)?

PollyEsther

You've said that Ryanair offered you a flight the next day ('24 hours later'). Do you mean that the offer from Ryanair was made to you 24 hours after the original flight would have left and that the new flight offered by Ryanair was to depart on some other later day? If the alternative flight offered by Ryanair was in fact to depart the next day ('24 hours later') what were the circumstances in which you decided to travel on a different flight that same day?  

pthompson

PollyEsther said:

What were the circumstances in which 24 hours later you chose to pay for and travel on a different flight instead of the one offered by Ryanair? 

My cancelled flight was supposed to be Sunday at 8pm. 
They offered me Monday 7pm flight -- but that was unsuitable as I needed to be at work in London by 9am on the Monday.   
So I booked a Monday 6am flight with another airline (+ an overnight stay).  That was my only option to get to work on time.

MeteredOut

Who was on strike? I seem to recall (some years ago now) that BA were not allowed to claim their own staff going on strike was exceptional circumstances but if this was a third party, they are correct, and duty of care is all they are responsible for.

From the CAA website

Examples of extraordinary circumstances

The main categories of events that are likely to be an extraordinary circumstance include:

• Weather conditions incompatible with the safe operation of the flight
• Strikes (unrelated to the airline such as airport staff, ground handlers, air traffic control or border force)
• Acts of terrorism or sabotage
• Security risks
• Political or civil unrest
• Hidden manufacturing defects (a manufacturer recall that grounds a fleet of aircraft)

https://www.caa.co.uk/passengers-and-public/resolving-travel-problems/delays-and-cancellations/making-a-claim/am-i-entitled-to-compensation/

Hoenir

pthompson said:

My Milan-London flight was cancelled by Ryanair and as they didn't have a suitable alternative I booked overnight stay and a flight with another airline. 

Was this the general 24 hour airport strike in Italy ?  Presumably they refunded your flight cost. 

pthompson

MeteredOut said:

Who was on strike? I seem to recall (some years ago now) that BA were not allowed to claim their own staff going on strike was exceptional circumstances but if this was a third party, they are correct, and duty of care is all they are responsible for.

Apparently both the following groups were striking:
 - Some Ryanair pilots, and
 - Some Malpensa airport handling staff. 

I don't know which of those in particular affected my flight.

pthompson

Hoenir said:

pthompson said:

My Milan-London flight was cancelled by Ryanair and as they didn't have a suitable alternative I booked overnight stay and a flight with another airline. 

Was this the general 24 hour airport strike in Italy ?  Presumably they refunded your flight cost. 

Airport staff said "some Ryanair pilots and some handling staff" were striking.  I don't know which of those caused my flight to be cancelled, but Ryanair insists it was "Disruption caused by an external strike action, which was beyond our control".

And yes, they've offered to refund to my 'Ryanair Wallet' (whatever that is), but that doesn't go far towards the costs of my replacement flight + hotel.

Hoenir

pthompson said:

Hoenir said:

pthompson said:

My Milan-London flight was cancelled by Ryanair and as they didn't have a suitable alternative I booked overnight stay and a flight with another airline. 

Was this the general 24 hour airport strike in Italy ?  Presumably they refunded your flight cost. 

Airport staff said "some Ryanair pilots and some handling staff" were striking.  I don't know which of those caused my flight to be cancelled, but Ryanair insists it was "Disruption caused by an external strike action, which was beyond our control".

More strikes to come as well. Seems to be a regular occurence in Italy at the moment. 

sheramber

pthompson said:

Hoenir said:

pthompson said:

My Milan-London flight was cancelled by Ryanair and as they didn't have a suitable alternative I booked overnight stay and a flight with another airline. 

Was this the general 24 hour airport strike in Italy ?  Presumably they refunded your flight cost. 

Airport staff said "some Ryanair pilots and some handling staff" were striking.  I don't know which of those caused my flight to be cancelled, but Ryanair insists it was "Disruption caused by an external strike action, which was beyond our control".

And yes, they've offered to refund to my 'Ryanair Wallet' (whatever that is), but that doesn't go far towards the costs of my replacement flight + hotel.

Did you ask Ryanair to book you onto that alternative flight?