Ryanair cancellation compensation
Compensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c). You are also entitled to choose between a full refund and a replacement flight, whatever the notice.
Which Ryanair flights are covered
Ryanair is registered in Ireland, so it counts as an EU carrier and its flights are covered in both directions.
- Departing an EU airport: covered by EU261.
- Departing a UK airport: covered by UK261.
- Arriving in the EU from outside Europe: covered by EU261, because Ryanair is an EU carrier.
- Arriving in the UK from outside Europe: covered by UK261, which also protects arrivals on EU carriers.
Worked examples on Ryanair routes
| Route | Distance | Rules | Per passenger |
|---|---|---|---|
| London (STN) → Dublin (DUB) | 471 km | UK261 | £220 |
| London (STN) → Bergamo (BGY) | 977 km | UK261 | £220 |
| London (STN) → Charleroi (CRL) | 334 km | UK261 | £220 |
| London (STN) → Paris (CDG) | 359 km | UK261 | £220 |
What Ryanair is likely to say — and the answer
“You were offered an alternative flight” — only relevant if it fell inside the Article 5 windows. Check the departure and arrival times.
“We told you in advance” — the question is whether it was 14 days or more, counted from when you were actually informed.
“Operational reasons” — not a category in the Regulation.
A voucher offered instead of money — you are entitled to be paid in money.
Specific to Ryanair
Ryanair strongly prefers claims through its own EU261 form and has, in its terms, required passengers to claim directly before involving a third party. That is exactly the model this tool fits: you send the letter yourself, in your own name, so there is no third party for them to object to.
They ask for the booking reference and the email address used at booking. A claim sent from a different email address to the one on the reservation frequently stalls, so use the original.
Ryanair is an Irish carrier. A Ryanair flight departing a UK airport is UK261; a Ryanair flight from Dublin, Madrid or Bergamo is EU261. The currency and the amount both change with it.
Rejections often cite ATC capacity or weather at a busy base. Because they fly the same routes many times a day, it is worth checking whether their own later flights on that route operated normally.
Time limit: Ryanair is based in Ireland, where claims run for 6 years from the date of the flight. How that works
Check it free, then send the letter yourself.
If your Ryanair cancellation appears eligible, the claim letter is £15 flat, with Ryanair’s likely objection answered in advance. You keep 100% of what they pay. If the airline rejects your claim on eligibility grounds, we refund the £15. Forward us their reply and we refund within five working days.
Ryanair cancellation: common questions
How much can I claim from Ryanair for a cancellation?
Between €250 and €600 (or £220 and £520 under UK261) per passenger, depending on distance. The worked examples on this page show the figure for some of Ryanair’s routes.
Ryanair cancelled my flight and put me on another one. Can I still claim?
Possibly. If you were told less than 14 days before, the airline only escapes compensation if the replacement fell inside strict windows — for example, with under 7 days’ notice, departing no more than an hour early and arriving less than two hours late. Outside those windows, compensation is due, although it can be halved if you arrived within 2, 3 or 4 hours depending on distance.
What reasons does Ryanair give for refusing cancellation claims?
The most common are: You were offered an alternative flight; We told you in advance; Operational reasons; A voucher offered instead of money. Most of these do not hold up against the Regulation or the case law.
How long do I have to make a Ryanair cancellation claim?
Where Ryanair is based, the limit is 6 years. You can usually also claim in the country your flight departed from or arrived in, which may give you longer.
Other Ryanair claims
- Ryanair: delayCompensation is due when you arrive at your final destination 3 hours or more after the scheduled arrival time.
- Ryanair: cancellationCompensation is due unless you were told at least 14 days before departure, or were told later but re-routed on a flight that fell inside the timing windows set by Article 5(1)(c).
- Ryanair: denied boardingCompensation is due immediately when you are refused boarding against your will — most often because the flight was overbooked — provided you checked in on time with a confirmed reservation.
- Ryanair: missed connectionWhere all your flights were on a single booking, a delay that makes you miss a connection is measured at your final destination.