They believed they had gotten off the complications of the pandemic without a hitch and booked a flight this summer with peace of mind.
But a few days before departure, it's a cold shower.
Their company, Ryanair, announces to them that they will not be able to board unless they reimburse the amount of a ticket purchased the previous year.
In 2020, these British travelers had booked a flight for the summer but ultimately chose not to leave due to the health situation at their destination and restrictions imposed by governments.
The flight in question was not canceled and was therefore, in principle, non-refundable.
But these travelers used the Chargeback process, or chargeback.
It allows a consumer who has paid by bank card to be reimbursed directly by the brand of his bank card or his bank, which then recovers the money from the seller.
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One week before leaving
However, for the Irish low cost, these flights were not subject to reimbursement.
In a statement relayed by Air Journal, Ryanair indicates that this concerns less than 1000 people who
“chose not to travel and then processed the chargebacks illegally through their credit card company”.
On the British financial advice site MoneySavingExpert, some travelers criticize the company for not having warned them before booking their second flight.
A week before leaving, they must therefore choose between refunding the amount requested by the company or simply canceling the stay.
Ryanair offers them a free refund of their second ticket if they opt for the second option.
Weakened by the health crisis, many airlines refuse to reimburse tickets for canceled flights and instead offer travelers a credit note, to be used within 6 or 12 months.
At the end of September, 16 European companies, including Ryanair, pledged to reimburse unused assets on time.
