Ryanair Cancellation Policy

Flight cancellations are indeed heartbreaking and frustrating under whatever circumstances they happen. However, sometimes you need to make cancellation requests no matter how important your travel plans. When it comes to Ryanair’s cancellation policy, the Dublin-based carrier is very flexible with its policies. If you have a ticket and wish to cancel it, then here’s all you need to know about the Ryanair cancellation policy.

Key Highlights of Ryanair Cancellation Policy

• Cancellation would be applicable on refundable as well as non-refundable fares. 
• If Ryanair cancels flight reservations, then you can obtain a full refund as well as compensation. It may vary with the kind of circumstances that occurred with the traveler.
• Ryanair cancellations are eligible only if you book a ticket via Ryanair’s portal, over the phone, or at the ticket counter. 
• You can cancel or change a Ryanair flight within 24 hours of purchase and claim a 100% refund.
• To know if your booking is eligible for Ryanair booking cancellations, visit the “Manage reservation’ tab. Enter the booking reference along with the last name of the passenger. You will get to know the fare rules of the ticket purchase with Ryanair to understand your booking eligibility. 
• As per the Ryanair flight cancellation refund policy, the refund would be processed back to the original payment method in 7-10 working days. 
• In case you do not fly on the booked flight, the airfare, taxes, fees, and other charges are non-refundable.
• Passengers can apply within one month of the date of travel to claim government taxes and airport fees. 
• If your flight has been affected by the bereavement of an immediate family member within 4 weeks of your scheduled travel and you do not intend to travel, you can claim a Ryanair flight refund upon cancellation.

Ryanair Cancellation Policy 24 Hours

Ryanair does not allow to request cancellation within 24 hours of purchase if the flight originates within the UK and Europe. The airline only offers 24-hour cancellation to all flights originating to/from the USA and Canada. Here are some important points, that passengers should consider before going to use 24 hours cancellation:

• As per Ryanair booking cancellation policy, passengers can get a full refund on their flight tickets if they cancel within 24 hours from the date of purchase.
• Ryanair cancellation policy 24 hours rule would be applicable on refundable as non-refundable fares.
• The refund amount would be credited back to the original mode of payment. It will reflect in the payee’s account within 7-10 working days.
• Flight purchased via Ryanair club Miles account does not cover under Ryanair’s 24-hour cancellation policy. 
• Free cancellation within 24 hours would not be applicable on group reservations and are subject to group fare rules. 
• Ryanair cancellation policy 24-hour rule would be applicable to the booking made via the airline’s portal, Ryanair cancellations helpdesk, or at the Ryanair flight ticket offices. 

Ryanair Ticket Cancellation Fee

Passengers can cancel their flight booking which is subject to a refund which is equivalent to government taxes and airport fees. 

• Passengers can cancel their flight at least 2.5 hours prior to scheduled departure by paying a Ryanair booking cancellation fee or administration fee of $25 USD to claim government taxes and airport fees as part of a full refund.
• To claim a full refund on your flight booking, Ryanair flight booking cancellations need to be done 30 days prior to the flight departure. 

How to cancel a Ryanair flight?

Wondering how you make a cancellation request on the Ryanair reservation. You can do it via the airline’s website or via the airline’s ticketing office. 

Method 1: Cancel Ryanair Flight Tickets Online

You can cancel a Ryanair flight online if :

• You booked your flight via an airline’s booking platform or any other Online Travel Agency (OTA).
• If you cancel your flight booking at least two hours prior to the scheduled flight departure. 

Here is the step-by-step process that helps you do the cancellation :

• On the Ryanair home page, click on the “Manage my booking” section, and you can retrieve your booking in one of the three ways :
  1. Enter your six-digit booking reference and the last name of the passenger.
  2. Enter the card holder’s name along with the last four digits of the credit/debit card number provided used at the time of booking. 
  3. Sign in with your email address provided at the time of booking, and then select the booking that you wish to cancel.
• Click on the flight you wish to cancel. You will get the Ryanair booking cancellation fee and the refunded amount displayed on the screen. 
• Click on the cancellation button to proceed. 
• Once you cancel your flight, the airline will send the confirmation to the email address provided at the time of booking. 

Method 2: Cancel Ryanair Flights Via Ticket Office

If you have a hard time making Ryanair cancellations online or are unable to access your booking online due to fare rule restrictions you can cancel the booking by visiting the airport reservation counter or to the nearest Ryanair booking cancellation office. Do not forget to carry a valid photo ID along with your flight tickets for traveler’s verification. 

Denial of Boarding or Cancellation

As per Ryanair’s flight cancellation refund policy, in the case of Ryanair’s canceled flight circumstances, passengers are entitled to claim a refund as well as compensation. Once your flight is canceled 

Essentials to consider for getting compensation as well as a refund:

• If you have a flight delay of more than 3 hours.
• If you were not informed of cancellation or information less than 14 days prior to scheduled departure. 
• If you have been denied boarding due to overbooking or any other technical failure 
• If you missed a flight leg due to a delay in one of the flight segments and you arrive at your destination no earlier than 3 hours after the scheduled time of arrival.
• You can cancel your Ryanair flight and apply for a refund for the unused flight. However, the refund would be processed within 7 working days
• You have the right to re-route your booking to final destinations under comparable transport conditions. 
• If you avail of re-routing at the earliest opportunity, you will be entitled to the following Ryanair cancellation claim compensation :
  1. meals and refreshments
  2. hotel accommodation
  3. airport transfers
  4. transport to an alternate airport, as applicable. 

Here are the following circumstances where passengers can’t claim a refund as well as Ryanair cancellation claim compensation :

• Passengers fail to check in for the flight and the boarding gate gets closed for departure.
• Passengers denied boarding or disembarked from the plane due to bad behavior or non-cooperation with the airport and security staff

Ryanair Cancellation Compensation In case of Delayed Flights

Here is an overview of the Ryanair cancellation claim compensation that passengers would be entitled to get in case of flight delays 

• Delay on the short-haul flight – Below 1500 Km
  • Passengers would be compensated in the form of an electronic travel voucher of $300 USD
• Delay on the medium distance flight – Between 1500 and 3500 Km
  • Passengers would be compensated in the form of an electronic travel voucher of $450 USD
• Delay on the long-haul flights – Over 3500 Km
  • Passengers would be compensated in the form of an electronic travel voucher of $725 USD.

In case of delay, you also have the right to basic benefits and services. Here’s the overview of what you’re eligible for in case of involuntary Ryanair flight ticket cancellation :

• Ryanair canceled the flight refund for the unused ticket within seven days.
• Re-routing to the next flights as soon as possible.
• Meal vouchers as well as refreshments.
• Two phone calls and emails at the expense of Ryanair.
• Ryanair canceled the flight refund for the partially used ticket within a week as well as the transport arrangement to the origin point of travel. 
• Hotel accommodation if the re-routing involves an overnight stay.  

In case of delay for more than 5 hours – 200% of the airfare will offer to the passenger as compensation, regardless of the flight distance. In addition, Ryanair would offer a flight to the final destination.

Departure delayed until the next day – 200% of the airfare will offer to the passenger as compensation, regardless of the flight distance. In addition, Ryanair would offer hotel accommodation, meal arrangements as well as airport transfer. 

Ryanair Refund Policy

Ryanair cancellation refund policy is subject to the fare rules under which the flight ticket has been purchased :

Non-refundable fares – If the fare rule states that the ticket is non-refundable, the passenger would only get the taxes and fees as a refund. 

Involuntary refunds – In case of involuntary cancellation, the refund would be equal to the fare you paid plus the associated taxes and fees that you paid.

In case of the death of an immediate family member – If your flight has been affected by the bereavement of an immediate family member within 4 weeks of your scheduled travel and you do not intend to travel, you can claim a Ryanair flight refund upon cancellation.

You must make your claim before the date of the flight and submit a copy of the death certificate. An immediate family member would be :

• Spouse or civil partner
• A child or stepchild
• A parent or step-parent
• Brother, sister, step-brother, or step-sister
• A grandparent or grandchild
• Mother-in-law, father-in-law, brother-in-law, or sister-in-law

Serious illness of traveler – If an accompanied passenger dies before the scheduled flight or becomes terminally or seriously ill and is not fit for travel, as per Ryanair flight cancellation policy :

• 100% refund on the entire booking
• No restriction or fee on making changes to a later date within 365 days from the date of cancellation. 

Frequently Asked Questions – (FAQs)