Is Ryanair right about this compensation?

[michelehu]

Got to the gate and was denied boarding due to overcrowding, cue a 5 hour delay. I accepted a flight that went to an alternative airport (2 hours away from my original airport) as there wasn't an alternative for over 48 hours. I used this flight but now Ryanair are only willing to compensate €400 in accordance with EU 261 and say as I accepted the flight that they don't need to refund the ticket.

I say that as the alternative flight was not the original airport and my only option really that they should refund the flight regardless, as they didn't get me to my final destination

Who is right??

Ryanair are right. You accepted an alternative flight to another airport, with no agreement for them to get you to your original destination.

You could have taken a refund if you wanted, or rebooked for another flight to your original destination another time, but you chose to accept the alternative flight instead.

Ryanair aren't really one for goodwill gestures. You're very unlikely to persuade them to give you a free flight.

Well not exactly goodwill as it's the law to compensate €400 for certain times and distances. But yes

I'd say they're right. You still used the tickets and you chose to go to an airport 2 hours away. I know you didn't really have a choice because you'd have had to wait for 48 hours but as far as they're concerned you chose that option. If you hadn't taken the flight it would be a different story.

They gave you a choice. You could have accepted a refund, but you chose to accept a different flight. It might not have felt like much of a choice, but it was, so legally they are fine.

Fair enough, I'm still fuming about the shit show that happened (I was denied boarding on the next flight too due to their error in transferring in my details but got on last second) that I feel like a goodwill gesture would be the minimum but appreciate I'll get nowhere so will accept the €400!

Also let this be a lesson don't get to the gate late for Ryanair flights next time! They are terrible for doing this.

Surely €400 is more than the cost of the flight being refunded?

I don’t understand why you were denied boarding at the gate. Overcrowding where? Surely if the flight was overbooked then you’d have been turned away at check in?

Do you mean that you never checked in online and got to the check-in desk after they were full?

I wasn't late and I checked in the day before. They claimed that there was a last minute change to a smaller aircraft and so my seat didn't exist. Bad luck.

I wasn't late and I didn't check in late. No lesson to be learned, except don't fly with Ryanair.

Ryanair are notorious fuckers. Avoid at all costs in future.

They really are truly awful, but that’s shocking even by Ryanair’s low standards. So they sell you a ticket, allow you to check in, then still decide to use a smaller plane, even though they know it’ll mean some people can’t travel. I've stopped using Ryanair after too many bad experiences. I get tempted when I see their flights are so much cheaper than other airlines, but I stand firm, because I remember the pain!

Last year my flight from Croatia to Bristol was cancelled cuz of winds
we maanged to get a flight 2 days after to london.
easyjet only paid my transport from london to bristol and thw hotel in croatia
if you wanted your money then you should have refused the flight change.

they are right

I'd be happy with £400 even if it is not strictly attributed to that set of circumstances. I applied for it from a more prestigious airline but they made their excuses (flight over four hours later but, hey, we were boarded so it doesn't matter if we spent hours on tarmac).

Thanks all. Just wanted to check that they weren't pulling a fast one and whether to keep pushing. €400 euros ain't bad but its the bare minimum legally and still doesn't make up for the discomfort, stress and being kept from my ill toddler who I hadn't seen in a week and was desperate to get home to, but lesson learned - avoid Ryanair.