I was told Ryanair would refund taxes paid on unflown bookings. I got a response today to a tax refund request. Ryanair is charging an "administrative fee" to process the refund of tax on unflown bookings-this after keeping the fare and any fees paid for number of baggage items to be checked and "Speedy Boarding" all of which are nonrefundable. They did not state the amount of the administrative fee but it exceeded the tax paid so I get nothing back. Ryanair flies into less used airports with lower fees and taxes so I wonder if the tax charged on any Ryanair ticket ever exceed the tax refund admin. fee?

I believe the fee is relatively new. I did learn that Aer Lingus, chief competitor of Ryanair at Dublin, charges a 25 euro fee for refunding tax but they often fly to higher tax charging airports so there might be a fraction of a ticket's tax refunded.

I had booked a secondary earlier ticket on a segment I had to fly while the fare was 1 euro figuring I would have the flexibility to choose which time to depart and only lose the fare and baggage charge after tax were refunded. It was still worth the price paid for the flexibility I got that day but I will think more carefully in the future knowing Ryanair has found a way to keep the tax.