Ryanair Cancellation - refusing to compensate

[Ms Scarlett]

Hi everyone, I'm really hoping someone on here can help me with an issue with Ryanair.

My OH and I were due to fly back from Porto to Liverpool on Tuesday 7th November but the flight was delayed then cancelled, allegedly due to adverse weather conditions though no other flights seemed to have a problem!...

We were herded back through passport control, collected our bags and told to wait in an enormous queue with the hope of getting put onto another flight.

It soon became clear that there was no way Ryanair were going to put us on another flight that day and quite probably not for a few days. Naturally we had to be back home the next day for work so this was not acceptable.

So we had to buy 2 flights home with another carrier, costing us around £312.

Ryanair have refunded me the princely sum of £38 and in recent correspondence have said that no compensation is due as the flight was cancelled due to adverse weather.

So, can we get them on the fact that this is clearly bullsh1t since other flights were taking off and landing at the same time as ours was due?

Do they have a responsibility to put us onto another flight on the same day? Yes they would have offered us other flights had we ever made it to the front of the queue but that wouldn't have been for several days so they might as well not have bothered.

Is there any way we can claim at least some of the money back from them for the extra expense incurred?

NB we didn't have travel insurance. I know, we're idiots!

Thanks in advance for any advice.

[PGH7447]

was the adverse weather at the destination, you need to check both airports to see if other flights were taking off / landing, if they were then you could well have a case

[Ms Scarlett]

The adverse weather was at the airport we were supposed to be leaving from. Allegedly the incoming plane couldn't land so diverted to Lisbon. But there were plenty of other planes landing and taking off and I was told off the record that it may have been a case of the weather being bad for like 5 minutes then it being ok afterwards. It was raining and misty but by the time we knew our flight was cancelled, it was sunny!

The other issue being if the flight was diverted to Lisbon as they say, why didn't they just send it back to come and pick us up. It must have gone from Lisbon to Liverpool anyway as it was always meant to fly back to Liverpool that morning so why not pick us up on the way?!

[NailPost]

Write to Ryanair and ask for a written reason why the flight was cancelled. Ask the airline for details of the weather and why the captain decided to divert. You should also write to the Portuguese airport and ask them for details of the weather at the time the Ryanair was due to land and while it was in the area. Post back with details of what they say.

It may also be a good idea to check what the EU regs are sayng. I can't remember offhand and I'll check later.

It may well be you will have to sue Ryanair in the county court for your money back. This particular airline are notorius for being litigious, especially for what they claim are weather related cancellation, but you would be on a stronger footing if you asked for the details and RYR refused to hand them over.

	County Court guidebook by Judge Patricia Pearl Follow this link to read the review of this excellent Small Claims Guidebook. This comprehensive and very accessible guide will take you through the process of suing or defending a claim. This guide will help you take control of your litigation and make you more confident about doing it yourself. Applies to England and Wales

[patdavies]

You could try writing to Porto ATC and see if they will tell you why the RyanAir flight no XX on YY date diverted to Lisbon.

They might tell you.....