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Ryanair has cancelled hundreds of flights – here’s how you can claim up to £350 compensation and get a refund
RYANAIR has announced a new wave flight cancellations - BUT those affected won't be entitled to compensation.
The besieged airline is grounding 25 of its 400 aircraft from November to March 2018 due to pilot shortages.
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It said that around 400,000 bookings have been made on the affected flights.
Last week boss Michael O'Leary apologised to customers after it announced it would be cancelling an average of 50 flights a day until the end of October.
But what are your rights if your flight is cancelled and you've been left out-of-pocket?
Why has Ryanair cancelled all these flights?
Last week, the airline blamed a combination of air traffic control delays, bad weather and a backlog in pilots' and cabin crew holiday for the cancellations.
It said the number of cancellations will equate to less than 2 percent of its daily schedule of 2,500 flights.
The Sun Online has the full list of flights affected all through from now until the end of October.
If you are affected you should have received an email, otherwise your flight should remain unchanged.
What are your rights?
Under EU rules, passengers have a number of rights that protect you if your flight is delayed or cancelled.
What these rights are depends on what type of flight your taking.
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It must be departing from an EU airport and operated by any airline OR arriving at an EU airport and operated by an EU airline.
If you're booked on a cancelled short-haul flight (up to 1,500 kilometres) then by law, the airline must let you choose between two options:
- Receive a refund - You can get all your money back for all parts of the tickets you haven't used. This should be done within seven working days.
- Choose an alternative flight - If you still want to travel your airline must find you an alternative.
If you choose an alternative flight, you are also entitled to "care and assistance" - things like food, drink and accommodation - while you are waiting for your new flight. Keep receipts of everything you spend.
How much compensation can you get?
Passengers affected by this new wave of cancellations won't be entitled to any additional compensation as they've been given five-weeks notice.
They will be offered alternative flights or full refunds.
But those affected by the announcement last week may well be entitled to compensation.
If travellers received less than seven days' notice of a cancellation of a short-haul flight, then you can claim 250 Euros (£220) per person.
For medium-haul its 400 Euros (£350) and for long-haul its 600 Euros.
The compensation they receive is dependent on the arrival time of the alternative flight they've been offered.
How to apply for compensation
If you do want to apply for compensation, then contact the airline directly.
Ryanair has on its website you need to fill-in.
Make sure you have all your details to hand, including your flight number and banks details you booked the flight with.
There's no need to use a claims management company as they will keep much of the compensation you are awarded.
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Airlines can avoid paying compensation for severe disruption if it can prove it has been caused by "extraordinary circumstances".
It's unlikely Ryanair will be able to claim that given it is its own error that has caused the cancellations.
If passengers have booked other services via the airline like car hire, then they should also include details of this in their compensation claim.
Richard Taylor of the Civil Aviation Authority told the Sun Online: "The welfare of passengers must be a priority for any airline experiencing disruption. We fully expect all airlines to meet their obligations regarding passenger rights."
What about travel insurance?
THE majority of standard travel insurance policies won't cover you for flight cancellations and other costs.
Mark Shepherd, from the Association of British Insurers (ABI), urged affected passengers to contact Ryanair.
He said: "Travellers affected will be understandably upset and have every right to expect help and support from the airline.
"If passengers are experiencing additional costs which for some reason Ryanair are refusing to cover they may be able to make claims on a travel insurance policy, but this may depend on the level of cover they bought. Clearly the first port of call must be Ryanair itself.”
Ryanair failed to respond to calls from the Sun Online this morning.
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