Ryanair Schedule Change...

[FVmouse]

Just checking back in again. Seems people are now seeing RA for what they are...

[beachlife]

I had my 30th April cancellation notification last week. I requested a cash refund. I have today received another email with a load of waffle, saying I have been issued a voucher which I need to click on to accept. I don`t click on accept then, it says if I want a refund to click here, which I do. This sends me to another page which tells me how wonderful the voucher is  & can use it to book another flight by 21/04/21.  I can fly after that date, as long as I book before the 21st April 2021. Nowhere can I see anything to continue to request a refund. 

I then ask to contact them and I am directed to a bot rather than a person. I ask my question about asking for a cash refund rather than a voucher. The bot can`t answer this surprise, surprise. Gives me several other options nothing to do with my request, the final one says I want to speak to support. I Click on that write my question requesting a refund, my question seems to be accepted but just sitting there unanswered.

Has anyone actually managed to go through the process & actually contact them & for them to say they are in the queue to be given a refund?

I`d rather have the cash, as I know I might want to book a flight in September 2021 but if I book in April 2021 the algorithm used by RA will not be giving the best price for the flight.

Have found by searching this website which may be of help to others to claim a refund.

https://refundclaims.ryanair.com/

[Jason W]

So if you want to book a flight in September why not sit tight and wait? Next to no chance of a cash refund at this moment, we booked for December and paid pretty much the same as last December.

[jimbews]

I used that refund claim for our trip starting on 24th March.
Cancelled by RA on 19th March. Tried  and tried that link.
Got errors multiple times then "worked". Email back on 28th March that it had been received OK.
8th April: Apology for delay due to "high demand".
17th April: got unexpected email with VOUCHER for round trip.
Tried again today following link in that email for a refund: which led NOWHERE useful.
Round and round in circles until found a way that should get refund.
That was refund for separate outgoing and home flights.
Filled all that in in spite of worry about asking for bank details, rather that refund to credit card.
Automatic reply.
Then:   email stating homecoming flight was "cancellations caused due to COVID 19, this is now classified as an extraordinary circumstance and compensation does not apply under EU261/2004".
No word yet for outgoing flight.

After years of avoiding Ryanair we'd tried them (Especially as we felt Jet2 cabin staff (unlike ground staff) were less than happy in their jobs) and then were shocked by what we saw as ripoff by Jet2 after TC folding. 

Would anyone want a VOUCHER for such a company.
Certainly their response contradicts advice given on the Which website.

[Jason W]

Seems Martin Lewis the Money guy is now on the case.

[beachlife]

So if you want to book a flight in September why not sit tight and wait? Next to no chance of a cash refund at this moment, we booked for December and paid pretty much the same as last December.

If I sit & wait for RA to decide then I might be waiting a long time. Or RA could go bust. Or they might decide despite EU rules, to say they eventually are only giving vouchers. My request might get forgotten in the mass of requests for cash refunds. I know RA want to keep hold of the cash people have paid to help their cash flow that grates with me. The Money is better in my hands than RA`s. I need a paper record of what I have done, so if I decide to take them to the small claims court in the UK. I want the ability to be flexible I may want to go with a different company. My travel plans might change. RA might after everything is over not fly to places where I want to go to.  I have worked out the algorithm of how flight prices work out cheapest on RA it used to be about 56 days, but  I`ll need some data after flights start up & some time to calculate & analysis it to work out any change as variables will have changed. Think I will stop there.....

I might ask despite booking flights in December after what has happened with RA are you sure they are flying to Fuerteventura next December? Fool me once shame on you, shame me twice shame on me.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Vueling are up to the same tricks.
I received an email about 10 days ago offering a chance to change my flight free of charge. Said no. Then got an email offering voucher or refund. I said refund, filled in the online form, sat back to wait for my Money. Then I got this today:

We are writing to inform you that as your flight has been cancelled because of the impact that COVID-19 is having on airlines, we've turned the amount you paid for your booking into Flight Credit.
Details of your cancelled flight:
- Route: SVQ - FUE
- Flight no: VY3164
- Date: 2020-05-12
- Booking code:
- Flight credit: 74.99 EUR
Please note that if your booking included several flights, you'll get one email for each cancelled flight. You will have the total amount of the different flights in a single Flight Credit. (There may be an hour's delay between emails).
How to use Flight Credit
1. Go to Vueling.com or to our app and choose a new flight (this option will be available from late-April).
2. On the payment page you'll be able to see the instructions for using your credit.
3. When you pay for your booking, if the final price is lower than your credit balance, the difference will be saved for future bookings. If the total price of the booking is higher than your credit balance, you can pay the difference by card.
4. Remember, we're giving you the flexibility of making bookings with your flight credit for 18 months from the date of issue. You can use it to book available flights until it expires.
If you need to book using your credit balance before the process is available on our digital channels, please call us*.
If you prefer to be refunded the price of your cancelled booking, you must call us so we can process your request*. Due to the current situation, this process may take up to 8 weeks.
Kind regards, The Vueling Team

I've also got to deal with Ryanair as they are my outbound carrier on 8th May, but that flight hasn't officially been cancelled yet! Feeling really annoyed that I used Spanish debit card as paying in euros rather than UK credit card so I haven't got that option to fall back on.

[el caballo hambriento]

Ryanair cancelled my flight and I applied for a refund.  I have waited about 4 weeks for the refund and then was only offered a voucher which I do not want.  They say "You can request a cash refund however bear in mind we will place your request in the cash refund queue until the COVID-19 emergency has passed. "

I want cash but also it is my understanding that if they go bust the vouchers would be of no use.

There is some movement on the problem due to the likes of the Money Saving Expert site.  https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2...content=28

Worth a read.

It contains an email address which you can contact.  I have done this. 

Also your credit card company can be asked to help.

[beachlife]

Ryanair just cancelled my flight back to Manchester on 12th May. Decided to change flight to a different date. The change was free, but flight prices were higher. As Jet 2 suggested they were not flying until June 17th decided that if I kept booking a flight between now & then the cost of flights on available flights would go up as other people would be in the same position as me. So managed to get a flight on 18th June with no extra cost to me & heres hoping that flights will have resumed by then.

The cash refund is a nightmare with RA ,but the change of flight is easy enough. If you can be flexible on dates you fly it can be at no cost, otherwise there can be a lot more cash to pay out.

[fatherted]

It's ok there being no charge but I'll bet it's being built into the new prices being advertised.