Claims Advice

d4nny5he

Hi,

In a last ditch attempt I thought I'd ask here in case someone knows a route for us.

We purchased flights through Ryanair to fly to France before finding out my wife was pregnant. Alas, pregnancy complications have ensued and as a result she has been deemed unfit to fly. We have spoken with the Travel Insurance (Xcover) who have stated their T&C's saying they'll only cover complications where the due date is 28 weeks or sooner before your travel date (We are now at 33 weeks and due to fly in 2 weeks).

Ryanair are refusing to help stating all purchases are non-refundable. Just being out of pocket almost £600 in flights and unable to get a credit to use at a later date with them is just annoying. We've explored transferring to someone else and selling that route but £100 per ticket makes it near pointless and probably unlikely this late in the day.

We didn't pay by Credit Card either.

If anyone has any advice on how we may be successful in recovering some of the cost, I'm all ears.

Hoenir

d4nny5he said:

Ryanair are refusing to help stating all purchases are non-refundable. 

Refundable options are always available. Cost more of course. That's the risk one takes when the choice is made who to fly with. 

Voyager2002

Your only hope is your insurance... read the policy document really carefully.

eskbanker

The airline isn't liable to refund the ticket cost - you may be able to reclaim the APD tax but IIRC the admin fee they charge outweighs its value so is pointless.

Even if you'd paid by credit card, it wouldn't have made any difference, as there's no breach of contract by the supplier, who is still able and willing to fly you as originally booked.

That leaves insurance, but if the policy you bought doesn't cover this scenario, then you're out of options I'm afraid.

Brie

Can't help at all but wanted to wish you all well.  Other things are much more important than money.

d4nny5he

Looks like I'm just going to have to accept defeat on getting anything back and celebrate the joys of the new baby instead 

Thanks for the well wishes and advice

Susaq1623

@d4nny5he Did you manage to get any sort of refund? I'm in a similar situation. I booked flights only with TUI for myself, son, DIL and grandchild. 
My DIL got pregnant after I'd booked and she'll be 37+ weeks by the time we'd have flown.
TUI will not refund or offer any change of date and their policy rules are very clear and understandable.
My travel insurance is attached to my bank account and I have had the policy for years. 
I have provided them with the invoice, a midwife letter showing the due date but I am not prepared to cancel the flights until they can assure me they pay out in such cases (surely I can't be the first person this has happened to?)
I have explained once they confirm a valid claim I will cancel and send the paperwork but I could offer the flights out to family and friends first rather than them go to waste (almost £900). 
I can't really afford to give them away but if I'm going to lose the money then it would be spiteful not to!