As cabin crew go on strike and protest at airports across Europe, flights are also being cancelled at the last minute
RYANAIR has cancelled 600 flights today and tomorrow across Europe as cabin crew go on strike and protest at airports around Europe.
But passengers have taken Twitter to complain that many flights are being cancelled at the last minute – some when they are already waiting in the airport.
Passenger Daniel Brown tweeted: “Why text at 6.55 to say an 8.45 flight is cancelled @ryanair?
“We're already at the airport, car dropped off and your schedulers will have known you were dropping these flights last night. I see you’re already claiming you don't need to pay compensation. #RyanairStrike”.
Another passenger called Francesca Vescovini tweeted: “I was in front of my gate when I discovered that my #Ryanair flight to Bologna has been #cancelled.
“Full solidarity to those on strike because @Ryanair is a rubbish company! Next time I won’t risk. #ryanairstrike”.
Others say they have been unable to get through to customer service for a refund.
People have vented that they haven't been able to speak to customer services to get a refund or rebooking for their cancelled flight – despite Ryanair earlier stating that there would be more people working on customer services to cope with the demand.
Passenger Sophie Rowland wrote: “@Ryanair After waiting 10 then 13 minutes on the phone, I have been hung up on before I can speak to an agent!
“How do I go about claiming compensation for our delayed flight? Can anyone answer me @Ryanair? #RyanairMUSTchange #poorservice”.
Meanwhile, customer Ant Seddon said: “So @Ryanair, first you cancel our flights, then you refuse to re-book us into another airline instead advising me to get a refund, buy new tickets myself and claim the difference back. I do that and THEN you have the audacity to refuse the claim!”
Ryanair has blamed the extra last-minute flight cancellations on a strike in Italy.
A spokesperson told Sun Online Travel: “All customers affected by the cabin crew strikes in Belgium, Spain and Portugal were notified last Wednesday (July 18) and have been re-accommodated with a refund or reroute there have been no further disruptions in these countries and all scheduled flights are operating as normal.
"Ryanair regrets that, due to strike action by some of our cabin crew at a number of Italian bases, we are experiencing flight disruption in Italy today (July 25) which has led to cancellations.
"Affected customers have been contacted by email and text message regarding their flight and given the option of a free transfer on to the next available flight, or a full refund."
";Ryanair sincerely apologises for any disruption and inconvenience to our customers caused by this strike action by a small number of cabin crew in Italy.
"Ryanair has added extra customer service staff to help re-accommodate/refund these customers this week and we are assisting all affected customers as quickly as possible.
"All customers whose flights were cancelled today have been contacted by email and SMS text message and sent links with information on how to automatically transfer to an alternative flight or take a full refund.”
Passengers who have had their flights cancelled by Ryanair with less than two weeks' notice during the strikes have been told by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority that they can claim money back from the airline - on top of their refunded or rescheduled flights.
A spokesperson from told Sun Online Travel: “The airline is legally obliged to pay compensation to passengers whose flights are cancelled with less than two weeks’ notice, unless it can prove that the cancellations were caused by what’s known as ‘extraordinary circumstances’.
"The recent strikes by French Air Traffic Controllers are considered to be ‘extraordinary’, as they are outside the airline’s control.
“However, the CAA has confirmed that strikes by Ryanair’s own employees are its responsibility and should be eligible for 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.
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.
The Ryanair cabin crew strike affects flights to Spain, Portugal, Italy and Belgium, with staff walking out over pay and working conditions.
Ryanair said that it had text messaged or emailed 50,000 customers to let them know their flights have been cancelled.
Europe's biggest budget carrier averted widespread strikes before Christmas 2017 by deciding to recognise trade unions for the first time in its 32-year history but has since struggled to reach agreement on terms in some countries.
Sun Online Travel previously revealed that Ryanair has been branded "embarrassing" by customers over the latest wave of strikes.
Passengers may also be able to claim compensation for their flights if they are cancelled.
The airline announced earlier today and it will be cutting the amount of flights from Dublin and that 300 staff there are at risk of redundancy as a result of lower bookings due to the strikes.
