Ryanair refuses to pay compensation
Budget airline says EU rules on hotel and food bills are 'absurd' when passengers have paid so little for their ticket
RYANAIR passengers who were stranded at airports because of the volcanic ash cloud will not have their hotel or food bills repaid if they amount to more than the original ticket price, the budget airline has announced.
The second biggest airline in France says the EU regulations on compensation for flight delays are "absurd" when passengers have paid so little for their tickets.
Chief executive Michael O'Leary told reporters: "There's no legislation designed that says any airline [offering] a fare of €30 should be reimbursing passengers many thousands of euros for hotel accommodation. It's absurd.
"Why exactly are the airlines expected to be reimbursing people's hotels, meals and everything else?"
The airline will consider passenger requests for expenses, but will limit all payouts to the price of the original fare.
Your rights
If you are flying with a European airline and your flight is cancelled, you have a right to a full refund of the ticket price within seven days - or rebooking on to another flight at no extra cost within a fixed period.
With Air France and Ryanair the rebooking deadline is April 30. Easyjet rescheduled flights must be within 30 days or the original departure.
If you chose the rebooking option, you are entitled to meals and accommodation for any time spent stuck waiting at the airport.
Airlines will not be required to pay any extra compensation on top of hotel and food bills because the delays were beyond their control.
Complaints about compensation can be made to the French civil aviation authority, DGAC. You can do this online, but you need to attach proofs like scans of tickets, receipts and boarding cards and correspondence with the airline.
Related story:
Your rights if air travel goes wrong
Photo:Scot_W_9
