Ryanair is cancelling up to 50 flights a day for the next six weeks, potentially affecting up to 400,000 passengers. So, if you are one of the unlucky travellers with holiday plans in disarray, what can you do?
How do I know if my flight’s been cancelled?
Unfortunately, Ryanair are leaving it very late to tell people if their flight has/will be cancelled. Ryanair have released a list of cancelled flights. This list can be found here.
Anyone affected will have received an e-mail advising of a cancelation. Check your spam/junk mail. An update on future cancelations is due later Monday.
WARNING - If you make alternative arrangements ‘just in case’, and your flight is NOT cancelled, then you won’t be able to make any claim for compensation or reimbursement.
My flight’s been cancelled – what next?
There are EU rules dictating the obligations that airlines have towards their passengers. In this case, they state: “You have the right to be rerouted to your final destination shown on your ticket at the earliest opportunity under comparable transport conditions or rebooking at a later date if that is more convenient for you.”
The problem lies in the meaning of “earliest opportunity”? If Ryanair get you on the next available flight that day, then they are probably fulfilling their obligations. However, a flight two days later won’t be much use and you may wish to challenge this.
Now comes the ambiguity – if you don’t consider Ryanair’s “earliest opportunity” good enough, there are a few options. Before any of that, think carefully before spending your own money. There may be a long process, and many e-mails, involved in getting reimbursed! (and of course, there is no guarantee you will see your money again!)
If you are unhappy with Ryanair’s re-routing options, ask to be placed on to an alternative airline. If anyone tells you to book your own ticket and get reimbursed, do everything you can to get evidence of this conversation. Put your mobile on speaker and record the call, get something in writing, or record the airline rep at the airport. Anything you get will help your fight for a refund. However, there is no guarantee that Ryanair will pay. For example, easyJet will only allow you to switch airlines if they can’t fly you within 48hrs!
No re-routing options were given – I’ve just been given a refund.
In this case, your life has become easy. Ryanair is in breach of EU rules, which state: “If the air carrier does not offer you the choice between reimbursement and re-routing, but decides unilaterally to reimburse your original ticket, you are entitled to an additional reimbursement of the price difference with the new ticket (under comparable transport conditions).”
In simple terms, you can re-book with another airline and Ryanair will refund you the difference. Note – this option is only available if Ryanair has NOT offered you the choice between a new flight and refund.
Give me compensation!
You’ll more than likely be entitled to compensation under EU rules. The amount of compensation is dependent on the distance of the flight, and how far in advance Ryanair cancels the flight.
More than 2 weeks – Ryanair is only obliged to refund the ticket cost - no compensation :-(
Between 1 and 2 weeks – Compensation due unless Ryanair offers re-routing which departs within 2hrs of original departure time.
Less than 7 days – Compensation due for all passengers “unless they are offered re-routing, allowing them to depart no more than one hour before the scheduled time of departure and to reach their final destination less than two hours after the scheduled time of arrival”.
The compensation rates are €250/passenger for flights up to 1,500km and €400/passenger for flights between 1,500km and 3,500km.
For more information, and details on how to claim this compensation, see our recent blog post - Claim A MINIMUM Of €250 If Your Flight Is Delayed More Than 3 Hours Under EU-Regulations.
Or for all the nitty-gritty information, have a look at the Citizens Advice website.
Flight home cancelled?
If your flight home is cancelled, Ryanair have an obligation to offer free meals, refreshments, telephone calls and accommodation, including transportation, if the delay is overnight.
Travel insurance any help?
Yes! Well, maybe… Most travel insurance companies include ‘abandonment cover’. Every travel insurance policy is different, so it’s very important to consult the terms and conditions of your individual policy. For example, AllClear will pay for your cancelled holiday after a 12hr delay, whereas the trust2travel standard policy is after 24hrs.
It may be worth ringing your insurance company at the airport before abandoning, as they may require some sort of proof.
PayingTooMuch.com?
These latest Ryanair shenanigans are a good reminder of the importance of having appropriate travel insurance for all members of the travelling group. If you have any questions on which travel insurance product is right for you, give our team a call on 01243 784000. Alternatively, get a simple quote online at PayingTooMuch.com.
If you need help re-booking flights or accommodation, why not try our holiday team on 01243 213 213.
