Eu Court Tell Ryan Air To Pay Up

[jake-the-peg]

Ryan air had been refusing to pay compensation to travellers stranded after the Icelandic volcano erruption.

They claimed it was //so extraordinary that normal rules should not apply//

But the European court ruled

//such events "constitute 'extraordinary circumstances' which do not release air carriers from their obligation to provide care//

Do you feel sorry for Ryan Air? should they have been absolved from responsibilty

[deggers316]

yes, if the aircraft had broken down then comp should be paid but NO not for natural events like a volcano erupting, the travellers insurance should cover that

[bazwillrun]

"Eu Court Tell Ryan Air To Pay Up"

Just because they tell him doesnt mean he will, Michael O'Leary doesnt go a bundle on being told what to do especially by the likes of the eu

[FredPuli43]

Not clear what the court ruling was. It may have been that 'an act of God' would absolve the carrier but a volcanic eruption of a known, live, volcano in Iceland, while extraordinary, did not fall within the definition of act of God. Courts are pretty reluctant to allow act of God as a plea and it has all but died out. If the passengers were insured, their insurers would have refused to pay out if it was an act of God

[DangerUXD]

Well assuming it's only ryan air that hasn't paid up then I'd say the court was correct. Have the other airlines compensated their customers?

[jake-the-peg]

I think Baz, he will find himself unable to fly anywhere if he doesn't comply!

The EU is very good at taking the side of consumers over big business interests (which is a major reason the likes of Murdoch hate them so much)

If Microsoft were fined, I don't think O'Leary's going to get away with ignoring it - do you?

[pdq1]

Michael O'Leary has got where he is by cutting costs to the bone. Some major events usually cannot be predicted and therefore cannot be part of his fares plan. Like a passenger who brings with him excess baggage its all the passengers fault for not being prepared. Taken to its logical conclusion he blames the passenger for not taking out insurance for extraordinary events that may happen.

[atalanta]

I'd have thought an airline itself would have insurance to pay out compensation in such cases.

[deggers316]

what about passengers insurance, atlanta

[bazwillrun]

If the EUSSR are so pro-consumer then surely those idiots must realise that he will just raise costs one way or another to cover the fine...how does that help the consumer ?

[jno]

I was about to go to Berlin with Ryanair when the ash cloud blew up. I had no problem with the airline at all: they emailed me to tell me how to ask for a refund, and paid up within 2 weeks.

This case involved someone stuck in Portugal, I think, and claiming hotel bills. I don't actually see why the airline should be responsible for anything beyond the price of a new flight. Don't passengers have a responsibility to take out insurance themselves? If insurance companies are given a loophole to avoid paying out, it should be blocked. Much as I dislike O'Leary, I can't see him as the villain here.

[zebo]

Glad to see so many replies supporting Ryanair! Personally, I don't see why any airline should be held responsible in these circumstances, it wasn't their fault. I know some insurance companies refused to pay up but surely this was an event over which no-one had control and the passengers would have to accept responsibility themselves.

[jno]

zebo, I guess individual passengers on a no-frills airline are likely to be the ones least able to afford it. Perhaps it's time that acts of God were not held to be uninsurable. Unpredictable, perhaps, but none the less that's what an insurance company's job is: to insure against things that might happen.

[bazwillrun]

"I guess individual passengers on a no-frills airline are likely to be the ones least able to afford it"

I know plenty of people who could afford non budget flights but use Ryan air regularly, because on mostly short haul they reckon they dont need any frills.

Their logic is why spend money if you dont need to, Ryan air covers the distance in the same time so why splash out money if you dont need to.

you need food ..buy a sandwich or eat before the flight...

[bazwillrun]

mobile cut me off before I could check and finish previous post.

AB Editor a time limited edit facility would be extremely useful

Anyway was also going to say, I dont like M. O'leary one little bit (I'm sure hes very nice outside of business) but hes is right in this instance.

but like everthing else today the buzz-word is compensation !

[Scylax]

O'Leary is not to blame for volcanic eruptions. This is another case of 'something for nothing' in this pernicious age of litigation. Hope O'Leary sticks to his guns and refuses point-blank to compensate this avaricious trouble-maker.

[FredPuli43]

It's all governed by European regulations. EC No 261/2004 sets out rights of passengers when flights are delayed or denied. These include the provision of hotel accommodation when the delay is overnight . "Extraordinary circumstances" is a phrase found in those regulations, paragraph 15,and is defined to include 'meteorological conditions' , inter alia. Nothing about volcanic ash, though there is reference to delay caused by air traffic control. The last seems to mean where air traffic controllers rearrange schedules for purely air traffic reasons; no slots available etc; rather than the instant case