Ryanair Free Move another refund delaying tactic?

[fatherted]

I've just received this email :-
Dear Customer,

We apologise for any inconvenience caused from your recent flight cancellation.

We sent you an email inviting you to move your cancelled flight for free or apply for a refund. Moving your flight is very easy, there are no change fees, you don’t have to pay the fare difference and you can travel to any destination on our network. Please check Ryanair.com as there may be options for you to move to an alternative flight on the next/previous day to your original.

We’re operating over 1,000 flights a day from 1 July and we’ve introduced new health measures on board to protect our guests and people. Free Move is a great option if you still wish to travel over the next couple of months and we’ve made a short video to show you how to complete your Free Move in 4 easy steps. Click here.

We look forward to welcoming you on board in the very near future.

Yours sincerely,

Ryanair Group Customer Care (Ryanair DAC, Lauda & Malta Air)

[Archer]

Wow! For some people this sounds like a very generous offer. A free move to any flight on their network WITHOUT paying the difference, if more expensive!

With EasyJet, if you move to a more expensive flight, you pay the difference. If you move to a cheaper flight you LOSE the value.

[Sam]

Wow! For some people this sounds like a very generous offer. A free move to any flight on their network WITHOUT paying the difference, if more expensive!

Exactly; great offer if they won't cancel the flight later. This is Ryanair we're talking about, after all.

...With easyJet, if you move to a more expensive flight, you pay the difference. If you move to a cheaper flight you LOSE the value.

Just for this reason we chose refund. If they simply gave us the credit, we would take it instead to help the company in these times.

[windermeregolfer]

We have had the same email as fatherted yesterday 28/5, 

Our Ref: KCHJ5R

Dear Customer,

We apologise for any inconvenience caused from your recent flight cancellation.

We sent you an email inviting you to move your cancelled flight for free or apply for a refund. Moving your flight is very easy, there are no change fees, you don’t have to pay the fare difference and you can travel to any destination on our network. Please check Ryanair.com as there may be options for you to move to an alternative flight on the next/previous day to your original.

We’re operating over 1,000 flights a day from 1 July and we’ve introduced new health measures on board to protect our guests and people. Free Move is a great option if you still wish to travel over the next couple of months and we’ve made a short video to show you how to complete your Free Move in 4 easy steps. Click here.

We look forward to welcoming you on board in the very near future.

Yours sincerely,

Ryanair Group Customer Care (Ryanair DAC, Lauda & Malta Air)


the original email cancelling our June 16th  flight arrived on Saturday May 16th -


Dear Customer,

We sincerely regret to advise you that due to the impact of COVID-19, Ryanair has been forced to cancel your flight(s) FR3805 from Manchester T3 to Fuerteventura on 16Jun20. Please advise any other customers who may be travelling in your party.

We are notifying customers today to inform you that you can choose between a full refund of the cost of your ticket, or the option of re-routing as well as reasonable care (as detailed below).

1. Apply for a refund

If you wish to cancel your reservation and claim a full refund of the unused flight(s) click https://schdchng.ryanair.com//Refund?m=20051608-2359-9773-b62b-de0d2c4feeb9&mc=8066&lg=EN&p=2 and enter your booking details.

2. Change your cancelled flight (for free)

You have the right to re-routing to your final destination, under comparable transport conditions, either at the earliest opportunity or at a later date at your convenience subject to seats being available.

If you wish to avail of re-routing on another Ryanair flight to the same or an alternative destination airport on the same day or an alternative date (before or after your scheduled departure date), please contact our Customer Care Team (subject to opening hours) or go to the airport ticket desk. Our Customer Care Team can also assist if you require other re-routing options, such as earlier re-routing on an alternative airline, train, bus or car hire.

If you avail of re-routing at the earliest opportunity, you will be entitled to (and where applicable provided with) reasonable meals and refreshments, hotel accommodation, transport between the airport and your place of accommodation (hotel or other) as well as transport to or from an alternative airport, as applicable.

If care is nevertheless not offered even though it should have been, please keep all itemised receipts for reasonable expenses you may incur, as you will need to submit these to Ryanair to claim back your expenses.

Please find attached a full text of your rights under EU Regulation 261/2004.

For more information on Flight Cancellations or Delays, please click here.

We again sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused.

Yours sincerely,

Ryanair Customer Service


This email didn't mention the return flight on July 16th but when I clicked on the refund and completed the the request I could include the return flight as it was part of the same booking complying with the regulation, I got a refund application request confirmation - 
  Ryan Air Refund Application 160520 2 Confirmation.pdf (Size: 202.85 KB / Downloads: 287)

The last paragraph of this application request confirmation is not clear, is the email mentioned relating to the refund having been processed or the application being approved?

What this latest email on 28/5 DOES NOT say is what happens if you still want your refund to be processed as requested.

What experience have others had in the last couple of weeks since pressure appears to have been put on RA by media and CAA / EU re processing refunds

[Spitfire58]

Hi John,
I got all those as well but not the “expenses” part as far as I remember. Just voucher to change or phone in for refund. It didn’t get refunded in the correct timeframe, in fact still has not been. Went on various “chats” With them after I think about a day & a half on hold & eventually got email confirmation of voucher rejection but to this date still no refund !

[milestone11]

The email sent to Windermeregolfer doesn't say anything like that of the one sent to Fatherted.

[windermeregolfer]

The email sent to Windermeregolfer doesn't say anything like that of the one sent to Fatherted.

Milestone 11  - sorry if I have confused you, the copy email  I posted was the original one I received on the 16/5 the one I received yesterday 28/5 was the same as fatherteds so didn't cut and paste that one.

[Decho]

I’ve tried twice to apply for a voucher for cancelled flights in May and heard nothing!
Anyone else tried this?

[windermeregolfer]

13.00hrs Update -

We have just had the following email from RA trying to persuade us to take vouchers or move the flight, we want a refund.

  Ryan Air Email re taking vouchers 290520.pdf (Size: 676.84 KB / Downloads: 372)

I clicked on the link indicated - If you do not wish to accept this voucher option and wish to move your flight or request a refund, please click here to contact us. 

This took me to a web page all about the vouchers, the first section of which reads -

Refund Update

• The processing time for cash refunds is taking far longer than normal as we are processing over 1,000 times the normal volume of cancellations. We also have 75% fewer staff available to process refunds due to social distancing restrictions.
  

• Ryanair is offering vouchers and free moves as these are automated and give customers an immediate alternative. Unfortunately, cash refunds cannot be automated. Customers who choose a voucher, but don't redeem it within 12 months will automatically obtain a refund after this 12 month period.
  

• Customers who choose not to accept a free move or voucher will receive their refund in due course, once this crisis has passed. Over the coming weeks and months, we will be working hard to process refund requests as quickly as we can. 
  

• We sincerely apologise for these unavoidable refund delays which are due to the unprecedented volume of Govt. imposed flight cancellations and we sincerely thank customers for their patience.
  

Full copy of Voucher page - 


  Refund Voucher Innformation.pdf (Size: 176.87 KB / Downloads: 485)

As there does not appear to be anything mentioned re refunds or any where to click to say I want to continue with my refund, based on Bullet Point 3 I am taking it that if I do nothing the refund application I have made, copy of which is in the post above will be made within 27 days of May 16th -

Once approved your refund request will be processed within 20 working days to the original form of payment and should show in your account within the next 5-7 working days. A confirmation email will be sent to the address provided in your booking

We wait with baited breath

[milestone11]

The email sent to Windermeregolfer doesn't say anything like that of the one sent to Fatherted.

Milestone 11  - sorry if I have confused you, the copy email  I posted was the original one I received on the 16/5 the one I received yesterday 28/5 was the same as fatherteds so didn't cut and paste that one.

That's good news. The original email didn't even allude to the fact that the change of flight to any location was free. This latest one is categoric in that regard, very unlike Ryanair.