I was using it as an example where a company gives a “must do by” deadline and it doesn’t rely on a customer having to work out dates and times.

So for the OP Ryanair should be very specific about what it means by 7 days before the flight to make a change.

Is that 7 days including or excluding the day of travel? Or do they actually mean 168 hours before and is that checkin close time or departure time? It’s then down to the passenger if they then want to change their flight or not.

But at least they would have clear information on what they need to do by when if they do decide to change.

My hotel bookings with IHG give both a time and a date by which I can cancel for free. Very specific info I can use.

No vague “day before” or “24 hours before”

I have one that states “cancel by 4 pm on Tuesday 31st August” for a stay that night. Another booking is cancel by 6pm on Monday 26th October for a stay starting on the 28th. And it also says that it’s the local time at the hotel. So that October one is 6pm Amsterdam so I have until 5PM UK as my latest decision point.

The point I’m trying to make is that if an airline or hotel is giving passengers an option to change then they should give specific deadlines. It ensures both sides know the rules of the road and will stop any arguments,