Ryanair Cancellation Policy: Ryanair offers low-cost fares. That’s why it has a strict cancellation policy. Yes, while you cannot get a refund if you cancel your flight booking voluntarily, you are entitled to a voucher or a full refund during involuntary cancellations. You can learn all about Ryanair’s cancellation policy herein.
Your Options When You Cancel Your Flight
Ryanair fares are non-refundable, which means you cannot claim your base fare in cases of voluntary cancellations. Also, in case of no-show, the airline forfeits the fare. The airline recommends that passengers buy travel insurance if their travel plans are expected to change, which can help to recover their costs.
Still, you can claim government taxes and airport fees if the flight is unused. Nonetheless, you have to claim the refund for these charges via the airline’s official channels.
Additionally, Ryanair’s official portal has ‘Voucher’ or ‘Full Refund’ option for involuntary cancellations. Choose the option suits you best.
Consider Changing Instead of Canceling
If you do not use your Ryanair flight ticket, you lose the base fare. That’s when changing your flight is an option to consider. To do this, you should visit the Ryanair ‘Manage My Booking’ portal, sign in to your account, click the ‘Change Flight’ option, and follow the system instructions. Remember to change your flight online at least 2.5 hours before departure.
- You have to pay the fare difference if the new fare costs more than the original fare.
- If the original fare costs less than the new fare, Ryanair does not refund the fare difference.
- As a Flexi Plus fare holder, you can change your flight without incurring any flight change fee; the airline charges a change fee for other fares.
Your Rights When Ryanair Cancels Your Flight
Ryanair’s policy for involuntary cancellation varies depending on when your flight is canceled.
- In case your flight is canceled more than 14 days before departure, you can rebook on a new flight on a new date on the same route. Or, you can reroute to your final destination under similar conditions, based on availability.
- Only if Ryanair cancels your flight within 14 days before departure can you claim a full refund to the original payment method.
- Ryanair offers compensation to passengers for involuntary cancellations, depending on the circumstances.
- If you are eligible for a refund and raise a refund request, the airline processes refunds to your Wallet within 24 hours and 7 working days to process the refund to the original payment mode.
Step-By-Step Process to Cancel Your Ryanair Booking Online
- In the first step, you must access the ‘Manage my Booking’ portal on the official website of Ryanair.
- Go on to enter your booking reference number and last name in the relevant boxes and tap the ‘Sign In’ tab.
- Next, you have to select the relevant flight and click the ‘Cancel’ tab.
- Review the details displayed on the screen and confirm cancellation.
- The system will generate a confirmation email and send it to the registered email address.
- Maintain a copy of your flight cancellation to submit during insurance claims.
Quick Recap
| Situation | What to Expect |
| Voluntary Cancellations | While the base fare is non-refundable, the taxes and fees are refundable |
| No-Show passenger | Neither penalty nor fare refund; only taxes and fees refundable |
| Ryanair cancels more than 14 days before scheduled departure | Option of rebooking or re-routing |
| Ryanair cancels within 14 days of flight departure | Free rebooking, free rerouting, a full refund, compensation if eligible |
The Bottom Line
Ryanair’s low-cost fares do not offer flexibility. That’s where purchasing travel insurance serves as your safety net. Nevertheless, in the event that Ryanair cancels your flight, you can claim a full refund or request a voucher for future travel. You can make your choice as per your preferences.





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