EU airline (EC 261/2004) · FR
Ryanair refund & compensation policy
What Ryanair owes you when it cancels, delays or overbooks your flight — and how to actually collect it.
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Ryanair refund policy in plain English
All fares non-refundable unless Ryanair cancels; then full refund (usually to a Ryanair Wallet first — you can request cash). Government taxes refundable on request minus an admin fee.
Delays and cancellations
EU261 applies: €250 / €400 per passenger (no long-haul). Ryanair's own-staff strikes have repeatedly been ruled NOT extraordinary circumstances. Care from 2 hours.
Your rights on Ryanair (EU Regulation 261/2004)
- Compensation for arrival delays of 3+ hours, cancellations with under 14 days' notice, and denied boarding: €250 (≤1,500 km), €400 (1,500–3,500 km or intra-EU), €600 (3,500 km+) per passenger — unless the airline proves extraordinary circumstances.
- Refund or rerouting on any cancellation, and on delays of 5+ hours if you choose not to fly.
- Care: meals and drinks from 2 hours' delay, hotel and transfers if overnight.
- Applies to all Ryanair flights departing the EU, and to Ryanair flights arriving in the EU from anywhere.
How to claim from Ryanair
- Gather the booking reference, boarding passes and any messages from Ryanair about the disruption.
- For a refund, use Ryanair's own form: www.ryanair.com/gb/en/useful-info/help-centre/refunds, or call +353 1 582 0003. Cite your right to a cash refund and decline vouchers.
- For compensation (EU/UK rules), either file with the airline and escalate to the regulator if refused, or hand it to a no-win-no-fee partner via the checker above — they pull the flight data, counter "extraordinary circumstances" claims, and sue when needed.
- If a refund you are owed hasn't arrived in 7 business days, a credit-card chargeback for "services not rendered" is a fast parallel route.
Policies summarised from Ryanair's published conditions and applicable regulations; airlines change fare rules often — confirm on the link above before relying on a detail.
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