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The Ryanair flight cancellation fiasco could probably result in a bill of $1.3 billion for the company. So far Ryanair has canceled over 20,000 flights affecting more than 750,000 travelers. Initially, the company tried to bluster their way through what compensation and remedies they were obliged to provide under the EU legislation EC 261.
This was curtailed when UK’s Civil Aviation Authority intervened on Thursday, September 28, accusing the company of failing to comply with the law, and giving the company a deadline to publish a proper response that complied with the law and its obligations under EC 261.
According to EC 261 if your flight is canceled and you are notified more than 14 days prior to departure:
“You have the right to reimbursement, re-routing or return, as well as the right to assistance.”
While there are plenty of options of remedy to choose from, you will need to contact Ryanair directly to see what is the best option for you.
Other Travel Insurance
Fortunately, various credit cards offer free travel insurance when you pay for your trip using them. The following cards offer travel insurance and a host of other travel benefits:
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Overall
Without a doubt Ryanair has poorly handled this whole situation, however, it is excellent news to see European regulators intervening for the benefit of the consumer and holding the company up to its obligations. Hopefully, if you have booked your flight with a credit card that will also offer you some degree of protection from Ryanair dropping the ball.
Source: The Daily Mail
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This seems to be the case with Spirit Air in the USA. I can appreciate budget airlines needing to cut costs to make up for the low fares, I just never understood why those measures effect flights running on time. Every time spirit has cancelled (about 30% of the time I ride with them) they end up forking over a flight on another airline that is a lot more expensive then what I was paying to ride with them. I wonder what the play is here, if there is one at all.
Ryanair is fine to fly most of the time… but I agree that reimbursement is due to affected clients!!
I hope they’ll get fined this time round, they have been able to escape just fines in the past, like having ”self-employed” pilots flying their planes but what goes around, comes around
That is an expensive mistake.
The headline is great for newspapers, etc. but there’s no way Ryanair will pay out $1.3 billion unless most of the affected take them to court…
The EU has way better policies for denied boarding, lost luggage, delays etc. US should adopt them.
I have been reading about this. So sad. I feel for the employees and passengers. I wonder if they had any agreements with other carriers to take passengers tickets, but I highly doubt it.
Well deserved! This is the reason I won’t use a low-cost airline.
The gap between the LCCs and the legacy carriers is narrowing, but largely due to the legacy carriers cutting costs and service to try to compete.
I will never ever fly on a LCC unless there is no other options or its a emergency.
Never flown them, but as they did start serving from FRA, I’ll definitely try it – if…IF they don’t cancel more Trips!
LLC’s have never appealed to me and now they appeal even less.
warning here not to use low cost carriers
I really like Ryannair
Hopefully they learn their lesson
They cancelled my flight and give me the possibility to change date and/or time of travel or ask for a reimbursement. So I changed my flight from one evening to the following morning.
Moreover, I have received a voucher of 40€ to use by October 31 and travel by next March.
So glad the gov’t stepped in and are forcing Ryanair to properly compensate
We’ll see how long this takes to be sorted out!
Wowza. That’s gonna bankrupt them really.
Might be in the minority, but I actually enjoy flying Ryanair. I’m pretty used to the low-cost experience though I guess.
I had no idea this was happening! But it looks like Ryanair were more concerned about this quarter’s profits than building a strong reputation and a loyal customer base – huge mistake!
Wow. Thank you for the reimbursement information. It is interesting to note that this airline would shirk their legal responsibilities unless pressed by the appropriate governmental entity.
This is a lack of respect with the customer. When the passenger is wrong, the company has no pity. Now why should we and the authorities take pity on Ryanair?
The one low cost carrier I’ve used extensively and like a lot is Air Asia. They fly mainly within SE Asia. I’ve gotten good deals even when I’ve added (at extra cost) several items above their lowest no-frills fare.
I am not a fan of these super discount airlines. I never fly them, despite the low prices.
You always end up paying more in the end with strict carry-on policies anyways
They also promised to raise pilots’ pay and bonuses.
Hopefully this doesn’t cause them to increase their dirt cheap fares.
Right a right; it’s good to see the authorities intervening.
They need to get a bit tougher on other airlines that refuse to reroute on other carriers too – looking at you, BA!
I have never flown Ryanair and I have no desire to fly Ryanair in the future. I would rather stay home than fly Ryanair!
I would probably rather drive these days!
I’m surprised by how many rather negative comments there are. I’ve never flown on them. Are they that bad?
I haven’t flown with them for about 10 years now, so I don’t know if things have changed.
Generally, it’s ok when it all works according to plan. You usually – and I stress, usually – get to somewhere within 50 miles or so of where you want to be.
However, when things go wrong, they go REALLY wrong – and you’re on your own. No rebooking, no rerouting, no hotels, nothing. Tough ****. Come back tomorrow. Or next Thursday.
I don’t fly with them any more, as I consider it one of life’s classic false economies. I still occasionally fly other LCC’s, like Easyjet, but Ryanair takes it too far.
Exactly the behavior the EC rules are designed to compensate for, what did Ryanair expect?!
What a mess…I am glad I do not have any booked flights on Ryan Air in the coming days.
I’m sure Michael O’Leary will be thrilled
wow. just wow.
Ryanair broke the golden rule of business – greed. They grew too quickly, bit off more than they could chew and took the low-cost model too far.
Yikes! I’m glad I am not flying Ryanair anytime soon.
This is why I am reluctant to book low cost carriers. I don’t find them to be trustworthy- compensation legislation or otherwise.
What a shame for them! Didn’t they expect it? No wonder if people stop to use them. Even if I wasn’t personally affected I’ll never try to book a flight in company with such reputation!!
It couldn’t have happened to a nicer company.
It’s good to know that something is being done to address the hostile tactics that Ryanair is using. I completely understand why airlines don’t have to compensate us for problems when they are beyond their control (like weather) but when it is their fault, they should be more forthcoming about paying up.
I’m not surprised however. This is one of the reasons I avoid LCCs. Although you might save some money upfront, if there are problems such as weather or mechanical issues, your options are much more limited.
i hope these cheap basstards go down , charging for toilet use
They don’t charge for toilet use!
They should join Air Berlin and just disappear
Ryanair is the Spirit Air of Europe
No, Spirit is Wizzair which has free only small cabin luggage, Ryanair is actually very generous and offers two cabin luggage pieces free of charge.