Citizens Advice information for Ryanair passengers
Ryanair employees across 5 countries have gone on strike for 24 hours. Citizens Advice has issued the following advice for affected passengers.
Citizens Advice’s webpage on flight cancellations has been viewed over 3000 times in the last 24 hours.
Kate Hobson, Consumer Expert at Citizens Advice, said:
“If you’ve been unlucky enough to have your flight cancelled then you are entitled to a refund if you were given less than two weeks’ notice. If you still wish to travel you may be able to get compensation.
“This is obviously a hugely frustrating time if you’ve been affected by the strike. Before you head to the airport, it’s important to check the status of your flight to avoid turning up for cancelled flights or any unnecessary waiting time.”
Tips for passengers
Your rights if your flight has been cancelled
You have a legal right to a full refund if you were told less than two weeks before you were meant to fly. This includes any onward or return flights that you now can’t take.
Alternatively, you can ask the airline to put you on a replacement flight. However, it may not be possible to book you onto a new flight on the same day you planned to travel.
If your flight home has been cancelled
The airline has a legal duty to put you on the first available flight they can. If the next flight home isn’t until tomorrow, they must put you up in a hotel. Any transport costs of getting to and from the hotel should be covered by the airline.
Waiting at the airport
If you are able to be booked onto a flight on the same day, the airline must still provide food and drink, as well as access to phone calls and emails.
Getting your money back
If your holiday is cut short because of the strike you may be able to claim your costs back if you have travel insurance.
Compensation
You can claim compensation through the airline’s customer service team if the replacement flight delays your departure or arrival.
The amount of compensation you’re entitled to depends on a number of factors, including the distance of the flight.
If you have problems claiming compensation, contact the airline’s ADR scheme - an independent arbitrator.
Check before you travel
It’s important to check the status of your flight before you travel to avoid hanging around unnecessarily at the airport.
For further help, visit the Citizens Advice website.
-ends-
Notes to editors
- The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local Citizens Advice, all of which are independent charities, the Citizens Advice consumer service and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more see the Citizens Advice website.
- The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
- To get advice online or find your local Citizens Advice in England and Wales, visit citizensadvice.org.uk
- You can get consumer advice from the Citizens Advice consumer service on 03454 04 05 06 or 03454 04 05 05 for Welsh language speakers.
- Local Citizens Advice in England and Wales advised 2.5 million clients on 6.2 million problems in 2014/15. For full service statistics see our publication Advice trends.
- Citizens Advice service staff are supported by more than 21,000 trained volunteers, working at over 2,500 service outlets across England and Wales.