To check in for flight I won't be taking or not?

mebu60

That is the question, whether to check in for booked flights we know we won't be taking. If the airline happens to cancel one or both flights, would we be entitled to a refund only if we have checked in beforehand?

Booked Ryanair flights last year for this June to Slovakia for a family wedding. That is not now happening so we are taking the opportunity to go to Spain instead. We accept the hit on the cost of the Slovakia flights but I'm wondering whether I should still check-in on those or not? If Ryanair were to cancel one or both, would we need to have been checked-in to qualify for a refund? It's our only chance for a refund unless we suffer the death of a close family member and we'd rather not go that route!

The Spain flights are for the same dates, also with Ryanair, also departing from Stansted for the outbound leg. If we've checked in for Slovakia as well we should presumably make sure to enter Stansted security using the Spain boarding passes. Are the airport / airline systems sufficiently sophisticated to know who on a particular flight has gone through security? I'm assuming the Ryanair model means they won't care that we are no-shows for Slovakia whether checked-in or not?

la531983

You can check into a flight mere hours before it leaves and only a certain amount of time beforehand (48 hours I believe if you hadnt booked a seat), if they were going to cancel it they would do it more than 2 days ahead of time anyway

mebu60

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81956504#Comment_81956504

Thanks la, advance check in for both destinations opens today so I will check in for Spain and leave Slovakia for now. Ideally they would cancel with as much notice as possible but there's always the potential for a last minute issue that leads to a late cancellation.

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81956504#Comment_81956504

Cancellations can happen at any time - there have been plenty of reports of flights being cancelled after boarding, e.g. where crew runs out of hours, technical issues only found in final checks, air traffic control restrictions changed, etc.

I can't see anything in the regulations that recognises any distinction between cancellations only made at the last minute and those announced days before, but it wouldn't surprise me if the airline, especially Ryanair, restricts refunds (for such late post-closure cancellations) to those who've gone through security or even boarded, as they certainly can track this.

Having said that, I can't think of any downside to checking in, but am just unsure if it'll offer any upside as such…

mebu60

Thanks @eskbanker: 'Having said that, I can't think of any downside to checking in, but am just unsure if it'll offer any upside as such'. My question in a nutshell. Can't really call it a dilemma. Seems a bit rude to check in for a flight you know you won't be on but if they'll know we haven't been through security with the relevant boarding pass then that mitigates it a bit.

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81956566#Comment_81956566

I wouldn't worry about rudeness, Ryanair absolutely thrive on it, especially their social media team! And after all, you've paid for both flights and know that they're happy to keep all the money for both unless they cancel…

Worried_fool

As an aside, Slovakia is a fantastic holiday destination. I love Spain, but in your situation I would certainly not have wasted the original flights.

Newbie_John

Overbooking, if you check in - there are always tiny chances you may be contacted etc.

Flight delay, if it's a major delay - 5h or something you may get a refund for not flying. Or they may offer a hotel, vouchers etc. and if the airport is nearby you could potentially use it?

Insurance? Not sure where this lands but again, of the flight was delayed 12h or something it may come helpful?

Tbh, chance 1 in a million really, a bit like not checking in and selling the ticket to another person with the same name 😅

mebu60

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81956617#Comment_81956617

It looks a lovely country, especially in the mountainous east where we would have been. We considered still going but with a different itinerary. There were some other issues we needed to take in to consideration that weren't huge but when we saw that the apartment in Spain we go to regularly June and/or September was still available and flights were reasonable price (less than Slovakia booked months in advance) it was simpler all round to just go for that. Apart from the cost of the unused flights we're very happy to be heading back to Spain, especially out of peak season. Will be there again in August which we would normally avoid like the plague but where we go is virtually on the central transit of the total solar eclipse and daughter will be travelling down from Norway as well.

la531983

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81956646#Comment_81956646

Are you suggesting the OP makes a fraudulent insurance claim for a flight delay involving a flight he wasnt even in the airport to take?

mebu60

In today's Guardian in article on potential jet fuel shortage: 'Michael O’Leary, the chief executive of Ryanair, this week said that the airline, Europe’s largest, is considering cutting 10% of its flights.'.

Be poetic justice if the Spain flights are affected and not the Slovakia ones. Worryingly with less than two months to departure the Spain flights looked pretty empty when I booked earlier in the week. Though many of the ex-pats who use the route don't pre-book seats or have more than the free small bag.

I have checked in for Spain outbound. When the return flight becomes available for check in I will do that and check in to the Slovakia flights too. Have also taken the option with Premier Inn for the night before departure to be able to cancel up to three days prior. Normally we take the good value non refundable deal.