Many airlines overbook their flights in anticipation of no-show passengers. While Ryanair does not overbook flights, there may still be situations in which Ryanair passengers are denied boarding. In these cases, passengers may be entitled to compensation.

Denied boarding and its related compensation policies are essential to understand for all Ryanair travelers. This article clarifies what denied boarding is, what compensation passengers are entitled to, and how Ryanair handles these claims.

Understanding Denied Boardings

Airlines have the right to deny boarding to individuals due to many reasons, such as:

• Late check-in: When a passenger fails to meet the check-in deadline, usually 45 minutes before the scheduled departure

• Invalid travel documents: For example, expired passports, visa issues, or a lack of relevant documentation for pets

• Other flights: When passengers don’t take all flights included in a reservation

• Health concerns: When a passenger is clearly severely ill

• Misconduct: When a passenger is posing a threat to themself or others due to intoxication or other issues

The above reasons don’t qualify for compensation, but another common cause of denied boarding does: overbooking. Overbooking is a common airline practice to offset the financial impact of no-shows. Airlines assume that a handful of people with tickets will not show up to their flight, so it sells more tickets than it has in order to be able to keep a full flight even if some customers don’t come.

However, when all passengers do show up, the airline has to deny boarding to some individuals. First, the airline will ask for volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for compensation that both parties agree upon and/or a seat on a later flight.

If not enough passengers volunteer, the airline has the right to deny boarding to passengers against their will. Under EU Regulation 261/2004, these passengers are entitled to specific rights and compensation:

• Refund or re-routing: Passengers can choose a full ticket refund within seven days or a new flight to their destination.

• Care: Depending on the length of the delay the denial of boarding causes, passengers are entitled to meals and refreshments.

• Overnight care: If passengers are delayed overnight, the airline must provide accommodations and transportation between the hotel and the airport.

Ryanair’s Compensation Policy

Ryanair states that it does not overbook its flights. However, if there is not an available seat for a passenger with a confirmed reservation, the airline says it will first ask for volunteers to give up their seats in exchange for benefits that both parties agree upon.

However, if not enough passengers volunteer, the airline will deny some passengers boarding involuntarily. In this case, passengers are entitled to compensation:

• EUR 250 for flights of 1,500 km or less
• EUR 400 for flights of more than 1,500 km within the EU
• EUR 400 for international flights between 1,500 and 3,500 km
• EUR 600 for international flights more than 3,500 km

Delays and Cancellations

Ryanair also offers compensation for delays and cancellations. EU Regulation 261 specifies a series of laws all airlines operating in the EU must abide by, including what makes a passenger qualified for compensation and what doesn’t.

Compensation eligibility and amount for delays are determined by length and distance:

The policy for cancellations varies slightly. It depends on when the passenger was informed of the cancellation and how closely the re-routed flight sticks to the original schedule. Passengers are not eligible for compensation if their situation fits into any of the below categories:

Additionally, to be eligible, the delay or cancellation must not have been caused by something outside of the airline’s control. To check if your situation qualifies, visit https://www.skycop.com/compensation/ryanair/. Situations like unexpected maintenance or pilot scheduling issues qualify, but things like airport strikes and bad weather do not.

What To Do If You Are Denied Boarding

If you are denied boarding, be respectful to airline staff. First, decide whether you want to get a refund or a re-routed flight. Ryanair will find you a new flight; don’t leave the gate area or customer service area until your new booking is fully confirmed.

Then, depending on the length of your delay, claim the care you are entitled to, like meals, refreshments, and accommodation. To do this, go to Ryanair’s customer service desk at the airport.

Keep records of everything, including old and new flight numbers, boarding passes, and the length of the delay between your old and your new flight. You may need this information when you submit a compensation claim.

Submitting a Claim

If your situation is eligible for compensation, you can submit a claim. Tips to ensure your claim is processed quickly include double-checking whether all information on the form is correct and never submitting anything more than once.

Compensation for Denied Boarding Claim Success Rate

Ryanair’s reputation for paying compensation claims is negative. For example, VRT News reports that a woman from Belgium has been waiting over a year for her compensation from Ryanair. The piece says that Ryanair is ignoring customers and making sure their forms don’t go through to get them to stop trying to receive compensation.

Conclusion

Overall, Ryanair has a great reputation. Its flights are mostly on-time, and no corners are cut when it comes to the customer experience and the safety of the trip. However, the airline must handle denied boarding claims better in order to increase customer satisfaction.