Talk Quesada forum

Hi,
Like many others we have recently had our Ryanair flights to the UK cancelled due to Corona virus. We were initially under the impression that we would be able to claim the EU261 compensation (€400 per person) because the reason for the cancellations was purely financial. Ryanair didn't want to fly with too few passengers. Ryanairs strategy, to mitigate potential losses, is to reduce the number of flights, persuade people to change their flights and then to heavily increase the available flight prices. (profiteering)

We have since discovered from the CAA website https://www.caa.co.uk/Our-work/Newsroom/COVID-19/ that EU261 compensation is not available as this is considered "extraordinary circumstances".

"Cancellations due to the economic and environmental consequences of operating flights with only a few passengers on-board may also be considered to be an extraordinary circumstance.
Please note that If your flight is cancelled, you will always be due a refund and to be provided with assistance, even if you are not due further compensation."

Personally I find Ryanair's behaviour regarding flight price hikes abhorrent. I would've expected the airline to accommodate people on available flights at the price they initially paid.
I would suggest that affected passengers claim their refund and use skyscanner.net to find a suitable (cheaper) flight rather than rebooking with Ryanair. We managed to get return flights with Easyjet a week later for €24 each.

Ryanair's behaviour at the moment is truly shocking, and I'm surprised no-one appears to have stepped in yet.

Because the FCO has "ADVISED" against travel, rather than stopped it, Ryanair are still flying in to Spain, and not providing the refunds.

Problem is...if you fly to an area the FCO has advised against flying to, then in many cases your travel insurance is null and void.

"the reason for the cancellations was purely financial. Ryanair didn't want to fly with too few passengers"

Neither defending nor criticising Ryanair but for balance and accuracy it's "economic AND environmental" and of course is a CAA/EU ruling not Ryanairs.

Fake news regards no refunds. I was due to fly to the UK on 25 March. I received an email from Ryanair and asked if I wanted a refund or flight change. I chose the refund and filled out the application online. Money will be in my account within 7 days. There far too many ill informed forum members who publish comments which are frankly garbage and lead to unnecessary worry and potential panic for other members. Validate your proposed statement before typing please

Maily wrote:Fake news regards no refunds. I was due to fly to the UK on 25 March. I received an email from Ryanair and asked if I wanted a refund or flight change. I chose the refund and filled out the application online. Money will be in my account within 7 days. There far too many ill informed forum members who publish comments which are frankly garbage and lead to unnecessary worry and potential panic for other members. Validate your proposed statement before typing please

To be fair there is validity in the comments.

I have numerous RA flights that have now been cancelled. On the website, where it asks if you want a refund or to amend the booking, it would simply take you back to the home page in ever decreasing circles.

Similarly, if you went via the refund specific page, the booking number wasn't recognised.

The only way the refund seems to be accepted is once you receive the email (which often comes so time after the original cancellation - not surprising at the present time given what is going on), as you have found. Once that subsequent email is received, clicking through brought about a straight forward process for a refund.

For those yet to receive the email (which the website/app makes no suggestion will follow), any attempts to get the refund have proved problematic.

With all going on at the minute, its hardly a surprise its such a chaotic situation and everyone needs a little patience. Whatever ones views on RA (or other airlines), the industry and those that work within it, is facing serious difficulties right now and may never recover. Many might later come to look back more fondly on the days of budget airlines when they have been erased and its costing folks £500 a time to get a return back to the UK/Spain.

Hi ,I have had the same problem getting my refund which was cancelled from Exeter Going round and round on the site, tried chat no good, My booking number my recognised, thought I was going mad as carefully filled in the box about 20 times. Thanks for comment about waiting for an email which have not received yet

Maily wrote:Fake news regards no refunds

Feel free to browse Ryanair's Twitter feed.

Not sure anyone said there were NO refunds.

Hello? Like I said you are spreading fake news.

Part of your statement below

"Because the FCO has "ADVISED" against travel, rather than stopped it, Ryanair are still flying in to Spain, and not providing the refunds"

Rude.

I said they are not providing THE refunds. I didn't say they are not providing ANY refunds.

They are NOT providing the refunds for ALL people. FACT.

Read other threads on the exact same subject. There are people on here who have had their flights cancelled, and are UNABLE to have their refunds processed. Ryanair's claims system is not recognising their booking references.

Time will tell if we get a refund, I went on Ryanair’s site and it said my flight was cancelled yesterday I spent most of the day trying to get a refund only to be told the booking ref is not recognised, today I tried it again and it finally went through and a message said they are looking at it and if it was accepted I would get a refund in the next 7 working days, I have not received any email saying my flight was cancelled it was only me looking found out it was cancelled, I will wait and see if the refund is forthcoming but I would suggest people look at the website again and see if you can get it to work.