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Ryanair Flight Cancellation
My flight from Reus to Stansted was cancelled, but we were not told this until we had been sat at the boarding gate for two hours (while our flight had yet to leave stansted) - Ryanair admitted at the time it was within their control and we would be entitled to compensation AND reimbursement of costs (hotels, food etc.)
We weren't given any assistance in finding accommodation (or paying for it) and the airport was being shut so we couldn't stay there We managed to get a flight 2 days after we were supposed to return, however it flew back to Luton not stansted- we weren't offered assistance in paying for the taxi transfer to get back to our car at stanstead. Since this happened (2 months ago) I have written 5 letters to Ryanair, the first 2 denied my claim for Compensation AND/OR Reimbursement and they have ignored the last three letters. I have written to the AUTC and they have forwarded my complaint onto the Spanish equivalent for them to get back to me. I was wondering whether you think it would be worth filing a court claim, as I have the sheet 'NOTICE OF YOUR RIGHTS IN THE EVENT OF DENIED BOARDING, FLIGHT DELAY OR FLIGHT CANCELLATION' from Ryanair which shows our entitlement to reimbursement (duty of care), even if we're not eligible for compensation due to the plane going 'tech' but they have flatly refused and subsequently ignored my requests for this reimbursement. (despite including copies of receipts) |
Why did they deny the claim? Do you have anything in writing from that night that shows it was the airline's fault?
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Small Claims court seems to be the only way to make them move. Found this on http://www.ryanaircampaign.org/. Talks about Ireland but I believe the procedure in the UK is similar:
Advice About Cancellations Submitted 20 September 2007 Travelled many, many times with Ryanair over last 5 years. Always supplied what they said they would. SEAT, FLIGHT ON TIME. However in May 2007 got dumped in Spain, saw plane land and empty, queued as you do with 90+ others, young, old, infirm etc. After 50 mins told flight cancelled due to technical issue, mmmmmmmmmmmm My tips now are "Get to the front of the rebooking queue soonest and get rebooked". There were only a few seats available on the next flight and we got them early. Do not panic collect luggage and make your own arrangements, a pain I know and VERY inconvenient but "What can you do?" No point in arguing RYANAIR will not and do not have to help. We arrived early next day collecting all our receipts for, hotel, taxis, food, internet, phone calls, visit to supermarket for toothpaste, razors etc and priority boarding. Came back next day what a relief, boss very forgiving and no wages lost partner self employed. Report event to Ryanair as an official complaint at point of cancellation, report event to airport authorities and on return home make the official complaint to Ryanair in exactly the manner they state. e.g. one fax to Dublin with copies of receipts. You will get a negative response to your claim for "Out of Pocket" and compensation. Do not worry make the 2nd request giving a time limit say one month or you WILL take legal action. You will still get the big NO on the last day, they are very good at making you wait. Then as reported before complete the on-line small claim with Swords Court in Dublin it costs 9 Euro and takes about 5 minutes. Within 2 weeks you will get a response stating they will pay out of pocket. Submit your receipts again via the Court officer and my cheque arrived within 4 weeks. Many thanks to this site and the Small Claims staff in Dublin. Regards the EU Compensation Scheme ask yourself is it worth your time etc. I know everyone is different but!!!!!!!!!! They paid every single penny of my receipted claims. Certainly restored my faith. |
Ryanair state it was for technical reasons. all we were given was an outline of the compensation rules, and the adress to write to.
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Good old Ryanair.
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If it ends up in court, how do you prove it was a technical issue? I would have thought that was very difficult to do unless you get something in writing.
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I stand to be corrected but my understanding of the EU rules are that you are entitled to compensation unless etc. etc.
In other words it's up to the airline to show that circumstances were outside their control, not on you to prove it. If they send someone to represent them then that will cost them money, and if they write to the court falsely claiming circumstances differing from the true events, then they are taking a risk that they will eventually be found out, which will not go without penalty. I feel it is high time that the EU ruled that where an airline sells seats in the EU country where you live, over the internet, then you should be allowed to pursue a claim there, as that is where you made the contract. If, for example you live in the UK then you should be able to claim here, provided they have sufficient assets here to enforce the judgement, rather than have to sue in Ireland because that is where they are registered, even though they are trading over here. |
When a flight is cancelled, the operating airline 'ryanair' must give you
* a choice of either refund of your ticket with a free flight back to your initial point of departure or alternative transport, and * meals, refreshments and hotel accommodation when necessary (including transfers) and communication facilities. If Ryanair does not fulfil their obligations, then you should complain to the relevant national enforcement body, If the flight departs from a EU country, complain there. If you were travelling from outside the EU, complain in the EU country where it lands. If the airline does not deal with the problem then download your Air Passenger Rights http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/...s/index_en.htm. it may be easier & quicker to email ryanair rather than writing. Hope this helps |
Bottom line is that their tactic is to make you work for your compensation. Only a handful of people will make the effort, which then works out much cheaper than being "soft" and automatically compensating all pax for that flight. Not exclusive to RYR or airlines either this strategy.
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I stand to be corrected but my understanding of the EU rules are that you are entitled to compensation unless etc. etc. In other words it's up to the airline to show that circumstances were outside their control, not on you to prove it. I also think the 'unless' has so much room for manouever that airlines will argue that they hardly ever have to pay out. Has anybody actually tried this in court? (The example above, if true, never made it to court) (It's all in EC Regulation No 261/2004) |
thankyou for your replies. We certainly intend to take the small calims court route now...seeing as the AUTC suggest ryanair are obliged to re-imburse for the costs outlined in the regulation. People have succesfully put this case against easyjet and won, but with ryanair being an Irish carrier does this mean i would have to take them to court in Ireland? I cant find any UK address with regards to "customer service"
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Ever heard the expression 'you get what you pay for'?
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Why don't you write to the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) with the details, say that Ryanair are refusing to comply with EC law, and ask for their AOC to be suspended. I'd just be interested to see what the reply was.
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