Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Horrible Ryanair Policies

186 replies

PurpleNotebook · 14/12/2021 10:33

Having to cancel Christmas flights due to a ds with positive Omicron test. So stupidly had bought Ryanair. The 'free change fee' is a load of caveated baloney, only flights bought before Oct, only for travel before Dec 31st 2021.

It will cost us £90 per person (six of us) to change our flights to a later date in 2022, even though the flights will cost considerably less than the original flights. We've spent £650 already, and are not flowing in money, this was a big outlay for us, and we trusted them - so stupid to accept the 'No Change Fee' banner they fly all across the site without getting it'd be caveated into uselessness for anyone changing a Christmas period flight.

I will never, ever, ever, ever, ever buy Ryanair again.

It's giving away your money in these unsettled times. BA etc might be more expensive but you are not signing the money away for good should things change, so it has to be worth the difference - the BA flights were 20% more which seemed a lot but now seems a bargain compared to this lot. So upset by this, and so foolish too for buying them.

Will not make the mistake of ever ever buying Ryanair again.

OP posts:
Scandisaurus · 14/12/2021 13:47

*going on in

notimagain · 14/12/2021 13:51

@TonTonMacoute

Sorry OP but everyone knows the downsides of using Ryanair. Their flights are dirt cheap and they achieve this by cutting back on everything else - you pays your money and takes your choice.

In addition you have no travel insurance, at a time when we all know that the risks of cancellations are very high as Covid rules can change at any time.

YABU I'm afraid.

Also worth bearing in mind in the context of ticket’s being dirt cheap etc that ATM the first £13 of money paid any short haul economy ticket ex the UK goes straight to HMG as passenger duty.

It’s no wonder that given the legitimate chance an airline will be somewhat unforgiving when it comes to passing up on the possibility of earning ancillary revenue by charging an arm/leg for sector changes, checked bags etc…and not funding robust customer service systems with countless numbers of staff waiting to take calls.

The race towards very minimalistic service started over twenty years ago with Ryanair in the lead, other airlines have had to follow, some managing it better than others.

kwiksavenofrillsusername · 14/12/2021 13:51

@Bunnyfuller

I would like some Ryanair advice too. Booked return flight to Paphos next summer. DH then gets told he has to be in court during those dates he’s police) and defence refuse to consider moving it.

Ryanair want to charge us around 250 each (4 of us) to change the flights, am I right in thinking it’s the difference between what you paid and the new fare? Because when I search for fares for when we want to go now, they haven’t released prices!

Do I have any legs to stand on/anywhere to go with this?

Some travel insurance policies cover things like jury duty. You might be covered under something like unforeseen circumstances.

Otherwise, I’d take to social media and complain. It looks bad for them to penalise a police officer for doing his job.

lockdownalli · 14/12/2021 13:52

@Bunnyfuller

I would like some Ryanair advice too. Booked return flight to Paphos next summer. DH then gets told he has to be in court during those dates he’s police) and defence refuse to consider moving it.

Ryanair want to charge us around 250 each (4 of us) to change the flights, am I right in thinking it’s the difference between what you paid and the new fare? Because when I search for fares for when we want to go now, they haven’t released prices!

Do I have any legs to stand on/anywhere to go with this?

As per previous posts - your travel insurance should cover it.

I am absolutely amazed that anyone doesn't know you have to book travel insurance when you book your flights/hotel unless you have an annual policy.

My annual policy is about £50 worldwide

Username7521 · 14/12/2021 13:53

Oh OP, I am so sorry that your son has covid and now can't fly.
I dont want to jump on the band wagon but buying flights without insurance during a global pandemic isnt the best idea. We buy pretty good travel yearly multi trip for the family and its really reasonable.

Sorry, I hope that you get to do the trip and that you're son is ok

comingintomyown · 14/12/2021 13:54

I can’t agree that Ryanair policy is horrible, how do you think they consistently offer the kind of prices they do ?
In normal times I might have had some sympathy but given the times we live in to book without bothering to check the details or get travel insurance you really can’t complain

Scandisaurus · 14/12/2021 13:54

That would be like burning your house down and then get insurance. Doesn’t quite work like that.

Itloggedmeoutagain · 14/12/2021 13:54

@Bunnyfuller

I would like some Ryanair advice too. Booked return flight to Paphos next summer. DH then gets told he has to be in court during those dates he’s police) and defence refuse to consider moving it.

Ryanair want to charge us around 250 each (4 of us) to change the flights, am I right in thinking it’s the difference between what you paid and the new fare? Because when I search for fares for when we want to go now, they haven’t released prices!

Do I have any legs to stand on/anywhere to go with this?

Is this a flexible flight? Another thing you could check is if he had any cover via his union. That might be worth a try
CyclingUpHill · 14/12/2021 14:01

I don't like Ryanair, and always go with someone else when there is reasonable alternative (sometimes there is not, and often no choice based on price or destination).

However, in this case you are the problem not Ryanair OP. Always read and understand the T&C for a significant purchase. These days, I'd be shocked at anyone booking travel without understanding the travel insurance opportunity/cost.

It must be super annoying, but it's totally your own doing.

countrygirl99 · 14/12/2021 14:08

When I see this sort of post I think it's a bit like buying economy ham and complaining it's not as nice as fresh cut off the bone from Harrods food hall.
We are (hopefully) flying Ryanair next week and not only is ot a more convenient route for us it's a 3rd of the price of the BA alternative. But that comes with risks we were prepared to take. We didn't get insurance until we had to pay for our accommodation because the excess would have been more than the flights for both of us but the minute it was needed the insurance was in place. For £600+ it would have been yhete as soon as we booked the flights.

NandorTheRelentless · 14/12/2021 14:11

@Tal45

I don't bother with travel insurance, insurance companies will do anything to get out of paying up, they're as much cowboys as Ryanair are. I'd never fly Ryanair, much prefer easyjet (over BA too, they have really gone to shit). Although easyjet aren't perfect we were able to change our flight on the day of the flight and only had to pay the difference in price (£50 pp) when we had a late PCR result.
Lets hope you never need it - for cancellations its not difficult to 'suck it up' but when you need repatriation, or medical help thats a different ball game
Volhhg · 14/12/2021 14:14

Yeah Ryan air are a bunch of crooks! It's especially annoying if you have family to visit in eastern Europe as they seem to have monopolised a lot of routes and going with a different airline would add a day on the journey. It's the lack of transparency on their website about things like this which bother me. It's much easier to see the full conditions when buying tickets with big national carrier.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 14/12/2021 14:16

Travel insurance usually provides cover for being a witness in court or jury service

Scandisaurus · 14/12/2021 14:19

For those of you who don’t have travel insurance, how do you expect you’ll get back home if you (or a family member) have an accident and die?

Not something anyone wants to think about, but it’s sadly not uncommon. You have to sort things out for yourself, not expect others to do it for you because they simply won’t.

julieca · 14/12/2021 14:21

@countrygirl99 there are lots of routes where there is no choice but to fly Ryanair if you want a direct flight. I hate them, but I have had to use them or not fly.

NandorTheRelentless · 14/12/2021 14:24

@Bunnyfuller

I would like some Ryanair advice too. Booked return flight to Paphos next summer. DH then gets told he has to be in court during those dates he’s police) and defence refuse to consider moving it.

Ryanair want to charge us around 250 each (4 of us) to change the flights, am I right in thinking it’s the difference between what you paid and the new fare? Because when I search for fares for when we want to go now, they haven’t released prices!

Do I have any legs to stand on/anywhere to go with this?

I think they can charge what they like? I don't know if there is any law as such, otherwise they could say "well we charged £750 more on the 1st of Janunever 2022 at 3.02am "
julieca · 14/12/2021 14:27

Ask on moneysavingexpert.
Here is hopeless for advice around things like that.

Tricked2003 · 14/12/2021 14:30

This is why you need to buy travel insurance AS SOON AS YOU BOOK!

A costly lesson to learn op.

julieca · 14/12/2021 14:32

And private companies should be prosecuted for misleading advertising.

notimagain · 14/12/2021 14:38

@julieca

And private companies should be prosecuted for misleading advertising.
True, but how does that apply here?
WhatisanODP · 14/12/2021 14:42

It’s a bit late to buy travel insurance now!

They’d be checking the date of the positive omicron test, then be having you up for a fraudulent claim!

MadeOfStarStuff · 14/12/2021 14:59

YABU for booking Ryanair and expecting anything other than shit. They’re well known for crap service and loads of hidden extra charges.

And YABVU for not getting travel insurance, especially considering we’re 2 years in to a global pandemic.

Of course you can’t buy it now and claim on it for something that’s already happened Hmm that’s ridiculous and if you lie would be fraud (and easily found out when they ask for details of the positive test).

maddiemookins16mum · 14/12/2021 15:01

You’re meant to get insured when you purchase, not when something goes wrong.

julieca · 14/12/2021 15:05

OP post on moneysaving expert forums and ask advice. If there is nothing you can do, they will tell you nicely. I would just hide this thread as it will just attract all those who seem to take pleasure in kicking someone.

julieca · 14/12/2021 15:20

@Username7521 my travel insurance for just me for a single trip is a few hundred pounds. Quoting what your insurance costs as if it is cheap for everyone is misleading.