Ryanair fines

John&Bo

Dear all, I wonder if anyone can give me guidance with a recent problem I've had with Ryanair. Also, this post might help others avoid a fine that I've had to pay. I will try to keep this brief. I have read a number of article, including here on MSE's site which have been helpful, but don't deal with my exact circumstances, hence turning to the knowledge base on this forum.

Travellers are expected to check-in online at least 2 hours before their flights (for my particular booking type). Failing to do so attracts a 55 Euro fine (according to the email I got from Ryanair). Customers are told that the best way of doing this is via the Ryanair App.

I checked-in, as instructed, via the app and sent a screenshot to my sister of her ticket (the two of us travelling).

When we arrived at Stansted airport I checked in the one bag of hold baggage we had between us, which was on my ticket and we moved on to the security hall. When we got to the gate my sister's ticket didn't work.

The problem being, when I'd checked-in via the app, I had done so for my outward flight and my sister's return flight (I'm not particularly tech savvy (drowning in it in fact!) so I find the system quite discriminatory). Clearly, we had to get the correct ticket for my sister from the desk, which cost £55.

I have emailed Ryanair to request a refund (which has been refused) because I feel I had done my best to check us both in,

Firstly, I believe it's a shortfall in the app that allowed me to check one traveller in for the outward flight only then to skip on to checking the second traveller in for the return flight. Surely there should be a check in place to prevent this from happening. Why on earth would anyone want to do that??

Secondly, I believe that, if Ryanair is not willing to honour a full £55 refund they should at least refund me the difference between Pounds Sterling and Euros. I had Euros on me at the time which I could have paid with (the email sent by Ryanair quite clearly says the fine is in Euros, there's nothing about GBP). But the person at the desk told me in no uncertain terms. I was to pay in pounds.

Finally, I thank you very much for getting to the end of this post, and I'd be very grateful for any help.

mr_stripey

I fear you will get nowhere with this.

Fact is you didn't check in. You made the mistake and rectified it by paying at the airport

If I look at my current booking for a flight to/from Pisa next month which is open for check in - it clearly gives me the option to select the outbound or inbound flight before proceeding.

Ryanair are not well know for being flexible. If you follow all their rules you will be fine - but any slip up will result in some kind of fine.

Probably just have to chalk it up to experience

flaneurs_lobster

Could you not have "checked-in" your sister at the entry to the security hall (using the app), or was it necessary to do so at a desk because it was now less than 2 hours before the flight? 

Unfortunately having expectations of anything other than a rudimentary service (both technical and human) from the most budget of budget airlines is unlikely to be successful.

They tell you what to do, you don't do it, tough - that'll be €55 (or £55).

Westin

mr_stripey said:

I fear you will get nowhere with this.

Fact is you didn't check in. You made the mistake and rectified it by paying at the airport

If I look at my current booking for a flight to/from Pisa next month which is open for check in - it clearly gives me the option to select the outbound or inbound flight before proceeding.

Ryanair are not well know for being flexible. If you follow all their rules you will be fine - but any slip up will result in some kind of fine.

Probably just have to chalk it up to experience

+1. I agree.

43722

I can't help with an answer. A few weeks ago, i toyed with the idea of flying to Bremen for a short break. After about 30 minutes trying to understand the Ryanair added charges, I decided I wasn't that fussed about going to Bremen after all.

la531983

43722 said:

I can't help with an answer. A few weeks ago, i toyed with the idea of flying to Bremen for a short break. After about 30 minutes trying to understand the Ryanair added charges, I decided I wasn't that fussed about going to Bremen after all.

Which bit of the website were you struggling with?

John&Bo

Thank you for your feedback. It's not looking good for me, and I expect to chalk it up for sure, but that's the way it goes. The folks from Cologne would say 'it is what it is'. We'll have to wait to hear what the folks from Bremen would say!

brianposter

la531983 said:

43722 said:

I can't help with an answer. A few weeks ago, i toyed with the idea of flying to Bremen for a short break. After about 30 minutes trying to understand the Ryanair added charges, I decided I wasn't that fussed about going to Bremen after all.

Which bit of the website were you struggling with?

The daftest bit has to be finding the password from a booking you made a year or more ago. On average it now takes me ten times as long as it did thirty years ago to make a flight booking. 

bagand96

brianposter said:

la531983 said:

43722 said:

I can't help with an answer. A few weeks ago, i toyed with the idea of flying to Bremen for a short break. After about 30 minutes trying to understand the Ryanair added charges, I decided I wasn't that fussed about going to Bremen after all.

Which bit of the website were you struggling with?

The daftest bit has to be finding the password from a booking you made a year or more ago. On average it now takes me ten times as long as it did thirty years ago to make a flight booking. 

Password managers are very easy and secure to use. Or have your own system to use a common password, cleverly adjusted by retailer for security. 

Failing all that, resetting a password takes 60 seconds. 2 minutes maybe maximum. Are we really suggested that's quicker than driving to a travel agent? Or spending 30 minutes on the phone to one? 

la531983

brianposter said:

la531983 said:

43722 said:

I can't help with an answer. A few weeks ago, i toyed with the idea of flying to Bremen for a short break. After about 30 minutes trying to understand the Ryanair added charges, I decided I wasn't that fussed about going to Bremen after all.

Which bit of the website were you struggling with?

The daftest bit has to be finding the password from a booking you made a year or more ago. On average it now takes me ten times as long as it did thirty years ago to make a flight booking. 

Not really, I have a Ryanair account and all the bookings are under it. No different to having an account with anyone else.