Ryanair Flight Cancellation Compensation

Ryanair flight cancellation compensation or refund?

When can you receive compensation from Ryanair, and when — a cancellation refund?

How much is the cancellation compensation in Europe?

Flights get cancelled due to many reasons. What matters is if the reason is the airline’s fault or not. You see if your flight is cancelled due to the airline’s fault, you may be entitled to both – a refund from Ryanair and cancellation compensation up to €600.

With Ryanair, it applies to flights to and from the EU and the UK.

1. Ryanair Flight Cancellation Compensation: EU/UK Regulations

What happens if your Ryanair flight is cancelled?

Can you get a new ticket for free? What about a refund? Can you get a Ryanair refund? In which situations can you get flight cancellation compensation from Ryanair?

According to EU law, flight cancellation procedures are very specific.

If you are notified of the cancellation 7 – 14 days before the scheduled time of departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 2 hours before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 4 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation, you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations, you are entitled to compensation.

If you are notified of the cancellation less than 7 days before the scheduled time of departure:

• You choose a new flight offered by your airline, which departs not more than 1 hour before the original departure time and you reach your destination less than 2 hours after the original arrival time. In this situation, you are not entitled to compensation.
• In other situations, you are entitled to compensation.

Could you be entitled to Ryanair flight cancellation compensation? 

Yes, if your Ryanair flight meets all these requirements:

• The flight is cancelled due to the fault of Ryanair;
• It’s a last-minute flight cancellation (not more than 14 days before departure);
• The flight is to/from Europe.

Is it a flight to/from/within the UK? You are protected even if you fly Ryanair within the UK. UK flights are covered by the UK Regulation UK 261.

By Europe and EU here on this page (and on this website in general) we mean all EU Member States, the United Kingdom (UK), Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte, Saint Martin (French Antilles), the Azores, Madeira, the Canary Islands, Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland.

2. How to Claim Ryanair Compensation?

There are two ways how you can claim Ryanair flight cancellation compensation.

One of them is more time-consuming, the other – easier.

One of the options is to contact Ryanair directly. Use the special form on their website to request compensation. Provide all the details about your flight. Be prepared that it may take months, and several reminder emails, until you receive your money.

You can also take the easiest path — legal representation.

If you want the hassle-free option, work with a company specialising in air passenger rights. All you have to do is to fill in a single form (EU flight cancellation compensation claim form). Register your Ryanair compensation claim, and the rest is done by the company. Our partners offer such services.

Read more: 

• How to Claim Ryanair Compensation?
• Your Ryanair Refund Is Taking Forever. What Can You Do About It?

2.1 How Long Does It Take?

It depends on the case.

Sometimes it can take 2-3 months. Sometimes, more. It depends on how cooperative is the airline. If Ryanair denies your claim, you might need to take additional steps to get the compensation – in some situations, it’s necessary to go to court, and that will take extra months.

What is your experience with Ryanair? Flight experience. Flight cancellations. Missed flights. Flight delays. Compensation. Share your stories in the comments, and let’s help each other with advice. DO NOT SHARE YOUR PRIVATE DATA!

3. How Much is Ryanair Flight Cancellation Compensation in 2024?

The compensation amount in the EU/UK is up to €600 per person.

Here is how you can calculate your Ryanair compensation

When your destination is within the EU/UK:

When your destination is outside the EU/UK:

There’s one exception. When the flight distance is 3500+ kilometres and you reach your destination 3 to 4 hours later than planned, you are entitled only to 50% of the compensation amount (that means €300, not €600).

3.1 Ryanair Voucher Refund or Cash?

What if you are offered a Ryanair voucher instead of compensation?

You don’t have to accept it. Request bank transfer instead.

Airline compensation and refunds have to be paid in cash or by bank transfer. It applies to both EU and UK flights. It’s regulated by European laws.

4. Extraordinary Circumstances

Some situations are out of the airline’s control.

Situations like these are known as extraordinary circumstances. In such cases, you aren’t entitled to flight cancellation compensation no matter how last-minute is the cancellation.

If your Ryanair flight is cancelled due to bad weather, natural disasters, terrorism threats, civil unrest, security issues at the airport, or other similar events, you can’t get flight cancellation compensation from Ryanair. Ryanair has no control over such events. While you can’t get compensation if your flight is cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances, you are entitled to receive care from the airline. 

Also, don’t forget that Ryanair staff strikes aren’t extraordinary circumstances.

One more thing to remember — airlines often refuse compensation claims. 

Ryanair may refuse your compensation claim too.

Yes, even if a customer is entitled to compensation. This is done to avoid financial losses. Airlines often give false reasons for flight delays and cancellations. Be prepared for that. To avoid this hassle, register your claim with the help of an agency specialising in air passenger rights. The company will check your flight and request compensation on your behalf. You won’t need to communicate with the airline. Our partners offer such services. 

Just fill in this claim form, and our partners will check your flight on your behalf.

5. Right to Care from Ryanair

Your Ryanair flight is cancelled last minute.

Now you have to wait at the airport for a new flight.

If you have to wait 3 or more hours, you have a right to receive care from the airline.

Ryanair must offer you free meals and drinks in a reasonable relation to the waiting time, two free phone calls or e-mails. If your new flight is leaving only on the next day, a free hotel stay (including free airport transfer) must be offered. Ryanair has to take care of all this.

It doesn’t affect your chances of getting compensation.

6. Ryanair Flight Cancellation Refund, Ryanair Refund Policy

And again, the rules are very specific.

If your Ryanair flight is cancelled, the airline has to offer you a choice:

• A new flight to your destination;
• Or a full cancellation refund (within 7 days).

You can choose either. 

You can’t get both, however. 

These are the laws in the EU. These laws are not affected by Ryanair internal policies (Ryanair refund policy). You can get a refund/a new flight even if your flight is cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances.

You don’t have to agree to a Ryanair voucher as an alternative.

Here’s an excerpt from the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004:

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 5

Cancellation

In case of cancellation of a flight, the passengers concerned shall: (a) be offered assistance by the operating air carrier in accordance with Article 8.

Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 8

Right to reimbursement or re-routing

Where reference is made to this Article, passengers shall be offered the choice between: (a) – reimbursement within seven days (b) re-routing, under comparable transport conditions, to their final destination at the earliest opportunity.

It doesn’t apply to situations when you cancel a Ryanair flight.

7. What Happens If a Flight Is Cancelled?

What to do if your Ryanair flight is cancelled?

First of all, wait for the email from Ryanair. 

It will contain all the necessary information. Like, how to get a refund, or how to book a replacement flight (it must be a free flight from Ryanair or another airline). If you are already at the airport, and it’s a last-minute flight cancellation, follow your Ryanair flight information. Also, there will be an announcement from the airline.

In most cases, you’ll be given a choice between a new flight and a full refund. If you choose a refund, take into account that you won’t receive it right away. Usually, the refunds are made within 7 days.

In some situations, you are entitled to compensation from Ryanair. If your flight is cancelled last-minute, due to the fault of the airline, Ryanair is also obliged to pay compensation. So, in this case, you can get a refund/new flight and compensation.

7.1 Connecting Flights

Do you need to be on time for another flight? 

It would be very easy if Ryanair sold connecting flights.

But they don’t, just like many other low-cost airlines.

If you have a connecting flight with Ryanair, it means that you have booked the connection yourself. It’s not protected by Ryanair. You have two or more separate flights, each with a different booking reference. Connecting flights like these are called “self-transfers”.

If your Ryanair flight is cancelled, and you have another flight (Ryanair or not), it’s your responsibility. You will have to deal with the consequences yourself. If you miss a flight, you will need to book a new flight. Travel insurance that covers trip interruptions and changes may cover the costs.

Ryanair Flight Cancellation Compensation/Refund: FAQ

Ryanair Refund

EU – Non-EU Flights, Tourists

Other Situations

What is your experience? Have you ever received Ryanair flight cancellation compensation? Do you still have questions about Ryanair’s compensation claim procedures and policies? Ask in the comments.