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AIBU?

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Original poster

To be annoyed at Ryanair screwing people over

123 replies

YeahWhatevver · 03/08/2020 20:08

Booked a week in Spain at New year, long before COVID. Ryanair flights and a villa, booked separately.

Have travel insurance which we took out at the same time.

Government puts Spain on the "no non essential travel" list and introduces 14 days quarantine.

Travel insurance is no longer valid as they won't cover any travel against the Government's FCO advice.

Manage to cancel the villa, full refund minus a small admin fee.

Ryanair saying they're running flights regardless, and if we choose not to go then it's our decision to not travel and we won't be refunded. "Use it or lose it" seems to be the stance

I know ryanair have a very poor reputation around customer service but this feels like new levels of contempt for their customers.

Asked if they realise that they will be taking passengers with invalid insurance to be told it's not their problem.

We've decided not to travel, and will speak to our insurer about claiming for lost flights but I wonder how much money Ryanair will keep back from customers.

OP posts:
Meadowland · 03/08/2020 23:00

Their business model is to offer bargain basement flights. No frills and that includes no refunds. You're happy enough with that when you're benefitting from it by getting cheap flights but when they want to keep their business afloat and carry on flying you think they should offer you (and everyone else) something that they have never done and let their business go under, lay off staff etc. You either take out insurance for this purpose (which you did) or you accept the risks. They haven't conned you.

This.

Miljea · 03/08/2020 23:00

You booked with RyanAir.

That's all.

Whistle73 · 03/08/2020 23:14

@Meadowland oh god I wish they had have been cheap. 300 quid per person I don't call cheap. What they did have was good flight times.

BatShite · 03/08/2020 23:16

Yeah I am usually on custmers side (especially with ryanair) but can't see they have done wrong here really. The flights are still going, you can chose to take them, and as much as its not your fault the guidance is up in the air right now, its not ryanairs either.

You might get lucky though and the flights cancelled before they leave. Or significantly delayed, in which case I think you can claim compensation which would cover the cost pretty much.

BatShite · 03/08/2020 23:17

Of course, I am not saying you shouldnt be angry either. But its neithers fault realy.

RigaBalsam · 03/08/2020 23:19

@SuperCaliFragalistic

You're not being penalised by Ryanair though. They are trying to continue to operate their business according to their terms and conditions. It's shame you are loosing out on your holiday (and for the record I would also be annoyed at taking the financial hit) but that isn't Ryanair's fault and they don't owe you anything.
Do you think by the same tocken people should not get money back for cancelled parties, weddings , concerts etc? As they were all advised not to go ahead by the government. Some weddings could but without the number of people. But photographers could provide the service etc

You would have a point if it was FCO approved. It isn't so it is their fault though not illegal. Just bad customer service.

Reading threads on here anyone travelling is selfish.

Empathy doesn't go a miss.

RachelLyg · 03/08/2020 23:21

Ryan Air still aren’t providing refunds for flights that have already been cancelled - which they are legally obliged to do. I’m still waiting for a refund for flights that were cancelled in April. In contrast, our flights with EasyJet were cancelled in June and we got the refund a couple of weeks ago.

I would have to be absolutely desperate to fly with Ryan Air again.

SuperCaliFragalistic · 03/08/2020 23:31

I think people who managed to get their entire deposits back for cancelled events were lucky. And they know it. A lot of businesses have gone under due to lack of income. The theatre and entertainment industry may never recover, it's an absolute tragedy. But lots will have been postponed/rearranged so the business haven't had to refund huge swathes of cash and they will have saved on some of the other costs associated with the booking. I don't fly with Ryanair and I don't really approve of their business model but when you pay for a service you accept the ts and cs.

anonm · 03/08/2020 23:36

Ryanair continually reach new lows of shit service, I’m amazed people still book to fly with them at all, even without a pandemic

True dat!

If it does end up cancelled don't let them "bank" the money & move the date, get your refund.

anonm · 03/08/2020 23:37

Easyjet & BA are allowing rescheduling.

Rosieredapples · 03/08/2020 23:38

Same thing happened to us, we booked last November for this week and can not afford the two weeks quarantine or work from home so we cannot go.
I don't expect a full refund but transferring the flights or refunding even the £180 for the two suitcases which won't be traveling would have been nice.

anonm · 03/08/2020 23:41

I thought travelling against FCO voided insurance?

anonm · 03/08/2020 23:42

Why would they refund you when it is your choice not to fly? Their flights are flying ao if you choose to cancel that is your choice.

Is it normal to avoid the gov travel advice?

PercyKirke · 04/08/2020 00:21

Sorry, but given their reputation, anyone fool enough to fly with them must expect this sort of thing.

LoopyLlama · 04/08/2020 01:54

I've been told they still have their famous 25 minute turnaround time. How they can do any enhanced cleaning is beyond me.
Ryanair in a pandemic is a terrifying prospect imo!!

I'd count my losses and be grateful to be honest.

LoopyLlama · 04/08/2020 01:56

Anyone know if they've increased their turn around time to allow for enhanced cleaning now Covid exists?

Thisismytimetoshine · 04/08/2020 02:05

Whether you have valid travel insurance or not is not the airline's problem. It's not illegal to travel without insurance, just very ill advised.
They're licensed to fly, they don't have to refund you because you won't be on the plane.

heartsonacake · 04/08/2020 04:33

YABU. The flight is still running, you are just choosing not to go on it so why on earth should they give you your money back Confused They’re still fulfilling their end of the deal.

itsgettingweird · 04/08/2020 06:20

I actually think Ryanair will struggle a lot in future.

I've used them a number of times knowing they are money sucking zero customer service.

But I'm very careful what I book and how I word emails to them.

They cancelled my flight to Majorca early July. Due to fly mate August. I was pleased and obviously how I'm really happy because they'd have refused a refund for me not travelling due to FCO advice.

However I have no refund. They will take money for flights they know are against FCO but won't refund within legal timeframe fights they've cancelled.

I won't use them again. However cheap and cheerful and however much you know what you're getting - I've seen enough of Micheal Leary on TV interviews and enough inaction regards refunds to realise what their true colours actually are.

gogorogo · 04/08/2020 07:29

It's not illegal to travel without insurance, just very ill advised.

Even more so during a pandemic

MaggieFS · 04/08/2020 08:08

You'd be crazy to travel without insurance.

But the point about insurance I don't understand is if you booked it pre-Coronavirus, why won't the insurance pay out for the flight you can no longer take due to FCO advice?

Freeekedout · 04/08/2020 08:35

If the insurance is like mine from the Post Office, purchased pre covid, it will cover FCO advice but general exclusions state it doesn't cover pandemics. I've got a £2.4k package holiday booked through Lastminute, FCO advise against non essential travel which means I have to pay for a holiday I can't go on and I've paid for insurance that doesn't cover me if I do travel and doesn't cover me if i don't 🤬 The flights are still going ahead and the hotel is still open which leaves me with no way of getting my money back. OP, I really sympathise. It's shit.

RigaBalsam · 04/08/2020 10:42

@Freeekedout will you not get money back on the package holiday guarantee?

Freeekedout · 04/08/2020 10:51

RigaBalsam Thanks. Lastminute won't entertain the idea even though I've said many times to them that I am entitled to a refund under the Package Travel Regulations. Who is responsible for enforcing these regs? We've submitted a complaint to ABTA and haven't had a response (although other people say they were a waste of time anyway). Trying to fill out an insurance claim firm but the policy which we bought in October had a general exclusions section that says pandemics are not covered (even though nobody had never heard of Covid-19 when we booked). We're meant to go tomorrow, so we can't start a section 75 or charge back until then. The cost to tomorrow we are getting the more anxious about how to do this I am. Do we just not turn up at the airport?!

MorganKitten · 04/08/2020 10:55

Ryanair saying they're running flights regardless, and if we choose not to go then it's our decision to not travel and we won't be refunded

Like you would any other time... they haven’t cancelled YOU have