Ryanair goes a wheeze too far

RECENTLY I purchased Ryanair gift vouchers as they can now be used online and proceeded to use the first one completely to pay for the bulk of the flight’s cost and the second to pay the €2 balance.

At the time of purchase it was stated no refund would apply. Fair enough.

A week later I returned to book more flights and, lo and behold, the balance was now non-redeemable.

As it happens I am a great advocate of the company and have flown with them hundreds of times. I have even bought more vouchers in the meantime — forewarned of the revised conditions — on the basis that the lost redemption value may exceed the card charges. Nonetheless, if any other retailer refused to honour, say, £40 of a £50 voucher following a £10 purchase, there would be a justifiable uproar.

Whether or not it is legally correct I believe that, with this particular practice, Ryanair has gone a wheeze too far.

The accumulated profit from all of the unredeemed vouchers Europe-wide will come to a hell of a sum and a lot of (voucher) recipients will be pretty cheesed off in the process.

Pat Reid

Holness Road

London E15 4EN