New approach for flight refunds from Ryanair
Coronavirus: Ryanair suspends refunds and offers passengers vouchers instead
Ryanair has started to tell passengers who want refunds for cancelled flights that they will have to wait until the Covid-19 pandemic has passed – but that it can offer them vouchers straight away.
In the first weeks of the coronavirus crisis Ryanair was praised in industry circles for bucking a trend among other airlines, including Aer Lingus, by adhering to EU regulations and automatically offering passengers refunds for cancelled flights instead of alternative bookings or vouchers.
In recent days, however, the airline’s position appears to have shifted: Irish Times readers report receiving Ryanair emails that say the airline cannot process refunds until after pandemic has subsided, and the best passengers affected by the mass cancellation of flights can hope for is a voucher valid for 12 months.
The emails tell passengers who “wish to request cash as an alternative” to a voucher that “as our payment agents are required to stay at home in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, payment security restrictions prevent us from processing cash refunds until the Covid-19 crisis has abated.
Coronavirus: Ryanair suspends refunds and offers passengers vouchers instead
Customers who want money back can ‘join cash-refund queue’ until crisis has passed
www.irishtimes.com
Coronavirus: Ryanair suspends refunds and offers passengers vouchers instead
Ryanair has started to tell passengers who want refunds for cancelled flights that they will have to wait until the Covid-19 pandemic has passed – but that it can offer them vouchers straight away.
In the first weeks of the coronavirus crisis Ryanair was praised in industry circles for bucking a trend among other airlines, including Aer Lingus, by adhering to EU regulations and automatically offering passengers refunds for cancelled flights instead of alternative bookings or vouchers.
In recent days, however, the airline’s position appears to have shifted: Irish Times readers report receiving Ryanair emails that say the airline cannot process refunds until after pandemic has subsided, and the best passengers affected by the mass cancellation of flights can hope for is a voucher valid for 12 months.
The emails tell passengers who “wish to request cash as an alternative” to a voucher that “as our payment agents are required to stay at home in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, payment security restrictions prevent us from processing cash refunds until the Covid-19 crisis has abated.