Airline Refuses to Refund Tickets Scheduled for Brussels During Lockdown
Jennifer Billock December 08, 2015
A group of British travelers were refused a refund for fares to Brussels while the city was in lockdown.
Before the terror attacks in Paris, Maria Doolan from Liverpool gathered 26 of her friends and family to book tickets for a weekend of fun in Brussels to celebrate her 60th birthday. But afterwards, when Brussels raised its terror level to the highest possible in response to the attacks, Doolan and her group decided to cancel. When they requested a refund from Ryanair for the roughly £2,000 in airfare and baggage fees, though, the group was refused.
Maria’s daughter Andrea expressed her frustration with Ryanair’s lack of compassion to the Daily Mail.
“As soon as we heard they were on lockdown, we decided not to go,” she said. “You cannot expect people to travel to a country on the highest threat alert there is – a country which is expecting an imminent attack. A country where people are being advised to stay away from public areas, metros and airports. These flights in total cost well over £2,000. They’ve shown no compassion whatsoever. Most of these ladies are aged over 60 and are simply too frightened to travel, given the week’s events. There would be armed guards on the street.”
Ryanair only offers refunds for four reasons: death of an immediate family member, grave illness or death of the passenger, charge increases after booking, and cancellations or delays of more than three hours. The airline is operating flights on its normal schedule in and out of Brussels.
[Photo: Maria Doolan (left, with daughter Andrea) planned the weekend break to celebrate her 60th birthday, via Liverpool Echo]
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travel insurance may have covered this. .
These people cancelled on their own. This has nothing to do with Ryanair. That they think they should be refunded is silly. That they went to the media to whine about it proves my point.
I mean, what do they expect? Some carriers gave the option to change Brussels flights in this time period, others didn't. The flight operated as scheduled. (Presumably) They didn't purchase modifiable or refundable tickets. (Presumably) So why should they expect a refund?
"You cannot expect people to travel to a country on the highest threat alert there is" The threat level is exactly the same in Charleroi (where they were flying to) as Liverpool. If they want to throw away their money then more fool them.
So each person was out about 74 GBP (2,000 / 27 persons) Not great but would move on from it.