Your Ryanair Refund Is Taking Forever. What Can You Do About It?

Still waiting on that Ryanair refund…

Your Ryanair flight is cancelled and you requested a full refund, but you’re still waiting. Perhaps you’ve received a vague explanation from Ryanair, or maybe they’ve been silent. Regardless of the circumstances, it’s important to remember that in the EU, customer rights are protected by law. Consequently, your Ryanair refund should be processed within 7 days.

But what if it’s not?

Check your compensation online.

Your Ryanair Refund Is Delayed: Step-By-Step Plan

In a situation where an airline cancels a flight, they are obliged to provide a refund.

Specifically within the European Union, if Ryanair cancels a flight, they are required to give you the option of a full refund or a new flight. It’s crucial to understand that while you can sometimes only get a refund, other times you may be entitled to both – a flight cancellation refund and flight cancellation compensation.

Step 1: Get in Touch with Ryanair

Firstly, reach out to Ryanair customer service via their website.

You can also try contacting them through social media channels.

Unless there’s a major, unforeseen circumstance, like the outbreak of a global pandemic, they should respond to you within a week. If a week goes by and you haven’t heard anything, send a couple more messages. If needed, repeat this process until you get a response.

Step 2: Connect with Ryanair on Social Media

If Ryanair isn’t responding, take your case to social media.

Following a few weeks of unreturned emails and messages, leverage Facebook and Twitter to get Ryanair’s attention. Remind them about the 7 day deadline and reference the Regulation (EC) No 261/2004, Article 5 and 8.

Step 3: Decline Any Offers for Vouchers

Your refund should be credited to your bank account.

You’re not obliged to accept Ryanair vouchers or coupons.

Step 4: Reach Out to the National Enforcement Body (NEB)

Every EU member state has an NEB.

Get in touch with the NEB of the country where your flight originated. For example, if your flight was from Germany, connect with the Nationale Beschwerde- und Durchsetzungsstelle Fluggastrechte. If your flight was from a non-EU country, contact the NEB of the destination country. You can find all the contact details of these organizations on this page.

Find out more about this here.

The fourth step is the most impactful but also the most time-consuming. It usually takes about 2 months for the NEB to reach a decision. After that, you still have to wait for Ryanair to complete the payment. For the best results, keep reminding them about your case on their social media pages and through other communication channels.

Ryanair Refund: When Are You Entitled to One?

As per EU regulations, you can claim a full refund if Ryanair cancels your flight.

In cases where a flight cancellation occurs, Ryanair must give you the option of either re-routing (providing a new flight at no cost) or refunding the full price of your ticket. This applies no matter why the cancellation took place, even under so-called extraordinary circumstances. A flight cancellation refund should be processed within seven days.

Any delays in refund processing by the airline are breaches of the EU regulations, and passengers may consider pursuing further action.

But What If You Are the One Cancelling the Flight?

If you’re the one cancelling the flight, the refund process can be more complex. Here are some factors to consider:

• Flexible tickets. If you’ve bought a flexible ticket, you might be able to get a refund, but always review the airline’s terms and conditions first.
• Non-refundable tickets. For non-refundable tickets, you usually can’t get a full refund. However, airlines might offer to refund the taxes you paid as part of your ticket cost.
• Travel insurance. If your travel insurance policy covers cancellations, you might be able to get a refund from your insurer, depending on the cancellation reasons.
• Cancellation within 24 hours of booking. Some airlines will give a full refund if you cancel your flight within 24 hours of booking, provided the booking was made at least 7 days prior to the flight departure.
• Exceptional circumstances. If you have to cancel due to exceptional circumstances, such as illness or a family bereavement, the airline might offer a refund or credit for future travel; this will depend on the airline’s policy.

Flight Cancellation due to Extraordinary Circumstances: Can You Get a Refund?

In times of exceptional situations, like severe weather, strikes by airport staff (excluding airline employees), or safety threats, airlines are generally not held accountable for the flight cancellations.

Nevertheless, as per EU legislation (Regulation (EC) No 261/2004), when an airline cancels any of its flights, it remains their duty to provide passengers with an option between a full refund and a re-routing alternative. This means that even if the cancellation arises from extraordinary circumstances, you’re still eligible for a refund.

Note that the refund should be processed within a week. If you experience delays in acquiring your refund, don’t hesitate to implement the comprehensive plan outlined previously.

What is your experience with Ryanair refunds? Have you ever received a refund from Ryanair? Share your experience in the comments!