What are your rights if flights are cancelled?

IF THE threatened pilots’ strike goes ahead on Thursday, tens of thousands of travellers will have their holiday plans thrown into disarray. Ryanair has not yet cancelled any flights and has promised to contact all affected passengers on Tuesday.

If flights are cancelled, Ryanair must offer passengers one of three options: re-routing as soon as possible, re-routing at a later date (essentially a rebooking) or a full refund. The first option seems unlikely given that Ryanair flights out of all airports will be grounded.

Under EU law, the airline must offer ‘care and assistance’ for delays of more than two hours on short-haul flights. This usually means light meals and refreshments. If an overnight stay is necessary, it must provide accommodation, transfers and access to phones and emails.

Compensation for cancelled flights typically ranges from €250 to €600 but, because any Ryanair cancellations on Thursday would be caused by industrial action, it is unlikely the airline would be liable.

Also, most travel insurance does not cover cancellations caused by industrial action.

Passengers due to fly into Ireland on Thursday should be offered care and assistance in the overseas airport while awaiting a replacement flight. Failing this, they should submit receipts to the airline which must reimburse ‘reasonable expenses’.

Passengers flying on Thursday may find it difficult to book with another airline if the strike goes ahead. They now face the choice is booking an alternative flight now or waiting until Ryanair’s update on Tuesday.