Has anyone ever got a refund from Ryanair?

In rare instances where Ryanair has cancelled your flight, failed to operate the flight reasonably according to schedule or you were denied boarding you may be entitled to a refund in accordance with Regulation (EC) 261/2004.



Yes, passengers do successfully receive refunds and compensation from Ryanair, though the process is often described as a test of endurance. Under UK261 and EU261 regulations, you are legally entitled to a full monetary refund if your flight is cancelled or delayed by more than 5 hours and you choose not to travel. In 2025, data showed that while Ryanair processed many refunds relatively quickly, they often initially offer vouchers instead of cash; you must specifically insist on a cash refund to get it. For delay compensation (up to £520/€600), Ryanair is known for its aggressive use of the "extraordinary circumstances" defense. While claiming directly can take 3–6 months, many travelers in 2026 use third-party legal services which report a 99% success rate when taking the airline to court for valid claims.

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If your flight has been cancelled; If you have experienced a flight delay of over 5 hours; If your scheduled time of departure is delayed by at least 5 hours; In the case of a very serious illness or bereavement of a booked passenger or bereavement of an immediate family member who is not travelling with you.

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Passengers can receive both a refund of an airline ticket and compensation for the cancellation, provided that their flight qualifies for compensation. To qualify, the airline must have let you know about the flight cancellation less than 14 days before it was due to depart.

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You can get a full flight ticket refund only if you booked a refundable ticket. However, airline ticket refund rules vary from airline to airline. Thus, it is better to refer to the airline's website or contact it directly for possible airfare reimbursement.

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Non-refundable tickets - Consumers who purchase non-refundable tickets are not entitled to a refund unless the airline makes a promise to provide a refund or the airline cancels a flight or makes a significant schedule change.

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If you change to a flight departing one day or more before or after the original flight, you will not have to pay a flight-change fee, but you must pay any difference in the fare. You can make the change up to one hour before the departure time of the original flight.

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Ryanair also does not allow changes to the registered passengers or a complete cancellation of the trip under favorable conditions even during the first 24 hours after booking. After the first 24 hours after booking, Ryanair only allows changes to the flight dates for a fee.

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Covered reasons for Trip Cancellation
  • Medical reasons (unforeseen ailment, injury or death in the family)
  • Inclement weather or natural disasters (tropical storms, hurricanes, etc.)
  • Terrorist attack (in or around where you're planning to visit)
  • Financial default (of a carrier)
  • Involuntary layoff or termination.


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If you purchased a round-trip flight and need to change the first leg to a different day, your best bet will likely be to pay the change fee and book a new flight. If you only need to change the return portion of a round trip, however, it may be cheaper to book a new one-way flight than to pay the cancellation fee.

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The 24 Hour Cancellation Rule
Many airlines offer a 24-hour cooling-off period as a customer service policy, allowing you to cancel your flight, incurring no fees if you change your mind or otherwise need to cancel within 24 hours of booking. This policy typically applies to both refundable and non-refundable tickets.

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The 24-hour rule Although federal regulations specify that these tickets must be purchased at least seven days in advance to be eligible for a refund, some airlines will allow you to cancel within 24 hours even if your travel dates are closer.

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Every major U.S. airline (except Southwest Airlines) typically charges penalty fees to change or cancel an economy fare flight. The fees, however, can vary from as low as $75 on a domestic flight to more than $400 on an international flight.

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Click 'My Bookings' on Ryanair's website or 'My trips' on the mobile app. Log into your myRyanair account. Select 'Manage this booking' on the booking you need to change. Select the 'Change your flight' option and choose the flight you wish to change.

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The maximum weight for cabin luggage on Ryanair is 22 lbs (10kg). Carry-on items must be stowed in the overhead bin or under the seat before you. Oversized or heavy baggage may be placed in the hold and checked for an extra fee.

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Yes. However, you will have to pay our name change fee. You may not change the name if one of the flights has already departed. See our Table of Fees.

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