This was in the
Irish Times today.
Ryanair’s solicitor is back on his feet. This time over a claim worth €80 that has been lodged by Barry Neary.
He and his wife were due to fly to Portugal in the summer of 2022 but the day before the holiday she took ill.
The couple had already checked in but the claimant logged on to the app to see if they could reschedule. The cost was high so they decided to travel and he closed down the app.
Boarding passes
The following day, their boarding passes allowed them as far as the boarding gate where they were told that they’d been checked out of the flight so had to pay a further €80 for fresh boarding cards.
Mr Neary says he’s a frequent flyer with Ryanair and insists he had not been alerted that he would be checked out of his flight if he looked at alternative options.
The Ryanair legal representative has come armed with a thick booklet containing details of Mr Neary’s app usage on the day in question and screen grabs of a “continue” tab as well as details of the site’s Frequently Asked Questions.
“You can’t make any decision about changing flights unless you press continue and by pressing continue that unchecks you in,” the solicitor explains. “By looking for an alternative you unchecked yourself and you are told that if you do that you will have to check in again.”
This is news to the judge and claimant with the former saying, “this is very educational for me”.
The solicitor produces the Ryanair FAQs that explain that if you have already checked in try to change your flight their system automatically checks you out and you will need to check back in if you decide to proceed with the original flight.
“It is as clear as a pike staff,” the solicitor says.
“It is deceitful,” the claimant responds. “I have booked hundreds of flights and this is new to me.”
“It is new to me too,” the judge agrees but he says the case serves as a reminder for people to be clear on the terms and conditions. “I wouldn’t have known this either but I am dismissing your complaint,” he says to Mr Neary. “And I do understand how you feel.”