Page 2 | Ryan Air are cowboys

Immigrantsong · 2020-08-15T12:30:27+00:00

I have flights to Spain booked for end of August with Ryan Air, booked well before the pandemic. Ryan Air seems to be pushing for all flights to happen irrelevant of FCO guidance. Have contacted them to ask for options available and refund but no reply. AIBU to think that they are cowboys? Anyone with any suggestions please let me know. Thank you.

CommonCarder · 15/08/2020 19:23

So sorry for you op. Sounds frustrating as you'd booked a package! Definitely pursue this angle.

I read an article about the Ryanair owner's early business. Apparently he opened his shop on Christmas day and sold batteries at a premium. That made me laugh.

I hate flying with them and try to avoid.

powershowerforanhour · 15/08/2020 19:26

O'Leary has a reputation to keep up - I think he loves to be hated, it's some weird kink or something.

rosegoldwatcher · 15/08/2020 19:35

No advice, just this video.
Says it all really.

Livelovebehappy · 15/08/2020 19:38

Obviously there’s not a chance you will get your refund if the flights go ahead. And not even via credit card charge back. If Ryan Air don’t cancel the flights, then they will say they are providing the service - whether you don’t want to fly will be your decision and I can tell you they will absolutely not refund if that’s the case. Maybe just give you a goodwill gesture of a voucher or flight transfer.

heartsonacake · 15/08/2020 20:02

If the flight is still going ahead but you’re choosing not to go on it then of course they shouldn’t refund you, because it’s your choice not to fly. They are still fulfilling their obligation of flying you there.

Original poster

Immigrantsong · 15/08/2020 20:08

@heartsonacake

If the flight is still going ahead but you’re choosing not to go on it then of course they shouldn’t refund you, because it’s your choice not to fly. They are still fulfilling their obligation of flying you there.

My question is that if they should be flying when the FCO is advising against all non essential travel.

They also do not offer anything for customers that wish to change their flights due to FCO guidance as a gesture of goodwill. This is what has led me to think of them as cowboys as other airlines (easy jet for example) offer free from fees changes.

Do you have any suggestions as to what I can do?

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heartsonacake · 15/08/2020 20:10

My question is that if they should be flying when the FCO is advising against all non essential travel.

They are allowed to fly by law; they’re not doing anything wrong and they’re not answerable to you.

If the flight is still going ahead but you choose not to go, you shouldn’t be entitled to a refund because they are keeping up their end of the bargain.

ragged · 15/08/2020 20:13

I agree with heartsonacake.

CrowdedHouseinQuarantine · 15/08/2020 20:14

are other companies refunding though?

Original poster

Immigrantsong · 15/08/2020 20:16

@heartsonacake

My question is that if they should be flying when the FCO is advising against all non essential travel.

They are allowed to fly by law; they’re not doing anything wrong and they’re not answerable to you.

If the flight is still going ahead but you choose not to go, you shouldn’t be entitled to a refund because they are keeping up their end of the bargain.

I don't understand why you are being aggressive.

I genuinely don't understand how they can be legally allowed to fly when the FCO issues such guilt as to how they can get away with not offering any options to customers.

I don't necessarily mean a refund but as mentioned before they do not seem to offer anything at all.

You still have not offered any suggestions. I understand that this is AIBU, but as a disabled person that hasn't travelled in years and has booked this way before the pandemic happened I came here for help. So if you can help please do. But no need being rude unless you are Mr O Leary and I somehow have offended for stating the obvious.

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Original poster

Immigrantsong · 15/08/2020 20:18

@CrowdedHouseinQuarantine

are other companies refunding though?

Easy jet offers moving flights free of charge if people don't wish to travel. I believe others do too based in information money saving expert has posted online. Ryan Air seems to be one of the very few that don't offer anything.

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Original poster

Immigrantsong · 15/08/2020 20:21

@JourneyToThePlacentaOfTheEarth

I too have only just realised this. Our flights were booked last September. They've insisted on flying to spain against advice. My travel insurance wouldn't pay out and credit card said if the flight goes they can't claim. The cost to change the flights was eye watering. We are in Spain and will quarantine when we get home

I wish you we out there. Hope you are at east enjoying it.

Unfortunately I can't travel under these conditions. My disability also made me shield all this time and travel under these conditions and a quarantine is out of the question.

Thank you and hope you get back home well and rested.

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earsup · 15/08/2020 20:22

sounds like you have booked a package so its atol protected etc and you should get the refund....some people need to get to spain...my friend has sold her house and must be there on monday...jet2 cancelled her flights 5 times...!!...at least ryanair is still flying....I have used them many times since they started and only ever had a 30 min delay to lithuania....always been excellent...no complaints at all.

Original poster

Immigrantsong · 15/08/2020 20:23

@Livelovebehappy

Obviously there’s not a chance you will get your refund if the flights go ahead. And not even via credit card charge back. If Ryan Air don’t cancel the flights, then they will say they are providing the service - whether you don’t want to fly will be your decision and I can tell you they will absolutely not refund if that’s the case. Maybe just give you a goodwill gesture of a voucher or flight transfer.

That's what I am hoping for. But so far they have broken their policy on the timeframes to respond to emails and I don't see them wanting to help with anything.

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ruabon1 · 15/08/2020 20:24

Cowboys ride horses. Michael O'Leary enters horses in the most cruel horse race, the Grand National.

Ryanair's behaviour has always been disgraceful, they make little apology if any for it. Good luck OP if any of the advice above helps, but please make it the last flight ever booked with them.

Original poster

Immigrantsong · 15/08/2020 20:24

[quote rosegoldwatcher]No advice, just this video.
Says it all really.

[/quote] That made me smile.

Thank you it was really needed as I have been quite upset and down about this.

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Original poster

Immigrantsong · 15/08/2020 20:26

@ruabon1

Cowboys ride horses. Michael O'Leary enters horses in the most cruel horse race, the Grand National.

Ryanair's behaviour has always been disgraceful, they make little apology if any for it. Good luck OP if any of the advice above helps, but please make it the last flight ever booked with them.

Thank you.

I certainly will not use them again
I am quite upset I did, but at the time we all booked the holiday, they were the only airline flying at the location so we felt we had no alternative.

Lesson learned.

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PhilSwagielka · 15/08/2020 20:32

Oh, they're notoriously shit. I booked flights with Easyjet and Ryanair before COVID happened and flights to/from Spain were cancelled. Easyjet have refunded me. Ryanair haven't. I'm not holding my breath. I mean, this is a company who can and will charge for every single little extra.

Original poster

Immigrantsong · 15/08/2020 20:33

@MorganKitten

They’ve been like this for years. They also racially profile passengers.

What? How?

I am BAME and didn't know about this.

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AdoptedBumpkin · 15/08/2020 20:34

They've always been cowboys.

underneaththeash · 15/08/2020 20:41

Ryanair were cowboys way before COVID - fly at our own peril!

rwalker · 15/08/2020 20:43

If they can fly they will the company operates on very slim margins that is why they are so cheap . There is no goodwill gestures with this company .
You booked it it looks like they are going to be able to fly so you won't get your money back.
On the beach again is cheap booking agent the flights are nothing to do with them you need to go to ryan air.

heartsonacake · 15/08/2020 20:49

I don't understand why you are being aggressive.

I genuinely don't understand how they can be legally allowed to fly when the FCO issues such guilt as to how they can get away with not offering any options to customers.

How am I being rude and/or aggressive? Disagreeing with you is neither of those things.

It doesn’t matter whether or not you understand it or agree with it, the fact of the matter is they are allowed to fly.

They don’t need to offer any options because they are currently still going to provide you with the service you paid them for.

Original poster

Immigrantsong · 15/08/2020 20:55

@heartsonacake

I don't understand why you are being aggressive.

I genuinely don't understand how they can be legally allowed to fly when the FCO issues such guilt as to how they can get away with not offering any options to customers.

How am I being rude and/or aggressive? Disagreeing with you is neither of those things.

It doesn’t matter whether or not you understand it or agree with it, the fact of the matter is they are allowed to fly.

They don’t need to offer any options because they are currently still going to provide you with the service you paid them for.

It was the overall tone of what you posted and the consistent lack of suggestions or advice.

I realise for you this is inconsequential, but for me this means a lot and would appreciate some advice and suggestions especially if you are taking time to post. Is there anything you can recommend?

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heartsonacake · 15/08/2020 20:57

You posted in AIBU, asking if YABU. I thought you were, so I posted accordingly. My tone was fine, you just didn’t agree.

I don’t work for Ryanair, so no, I don’t have any suggestions or advice. Nobody here can give you anything accurate; your only hope is to talk to them.