Ryanair strikes

How consumers should seek compensation if the strikes threaten to ruin your holiday

Ryanair has announced that around 190 flights have been cancelled on Friday 28^th September due to strikes by cabin crews from various countries. This could affect around 30,000 travellers, who may now find their holiday plans interrupted, which could leave them out of pocket and unable to reach their desired destination.

Fiona Macrae, from the consumer awareness initiative travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk, gives you the information you need to know about strikes and what to do if your holiday is affected.

What is Ryanair doing?

Ryanair have been contacting passengers to advising the cancellation of flights, it has also contacted some passengers asking them to consider booking on to alternative flights in case of ‘disruption’ to their service.

What happens if Ryanair cancels my flight?

Airlines have to offer a choice of either a full refund of the ticket and compensation or arrange an alternative flight.

Are Ryanair offering compensation?

It has been reported that Ryanair won’t be offering compensation for the strikes, however under EU law passengers are entitled to compensation if they are given less than two weeks’ notice regarding cancellations.

What should you do if your flight is cancelled?

The first thing you should do is contact Ryanair, however under European Legislation there is also a ‘re-route’ option which means that if your original airline cannot get you to your destination on your booked date, or the day after then you can demand to be booked with a rival airline (subject to seat availability) – your original airline is legally responsible for booking replacement flights and should bear the cost accordingly.  If the airline advises you to make your own arrangements then provided you can prove that you have taken the only available alternative, you should be able to reclaim the costs from the original airline.

What can you do if you have incurred additional costs due to the flight cancellation?

Unfortunately travel insurance policies do not cover the cost of a replacement flight; you should therefore make use of the ‘re-route’ option mentioned above.

Similarly, any additional costs to enable you to continue your holiday would not be covered; for example, if you had pre-paid your airport parking but now have to travel from a different airport, or if your flight arrangements mean that you now have to stay in a hotel overnight before catching your new flight.

But will my travel insurer pay up?

Generally, if there is a strike which results in the cancellation of flights then the airline will offer alternative flights or a refund. There are a few travel insurance policies that offer cancellation cover for ‘any reason you could not have been expected to foresee or avoid’. If you have this cover, you may be able to cancel your holiday and claim back any pre-paid expenses, such as excursions, car hire costs or accommodation fees that you cannot get back from anywhere else. However, if you buy a policy after a strike has been announced then you may not be covered as it is a ‘known event’.

Fiona Macrae from travelinsuranceexplained.co.uk said:

“It is unfortunate that 30,000 people may have their travel plans halted by the Ryanair strikes on Friday 28^th September. However, with so few travel insurance policies offering cancellation cover for ‘any reason you could not have been expected to foresee or avoid’, it highlights the importance of checking your policy carefully before you purchase to ensure that you are protected if you are caught up in airline disputes.”