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Ryanair compensation info 'woefully short' says Which? Ryanair compensation info 'woefully short' says Which?
(35 minutes later)
Ryanair's information to customers about compensation for cancelled flights is "woefully short", consumer group Which? has said.Ryanair's information to customers about compensation for cancelled flights is "woefully short", consumer group Which? has said.
Ryanair has stepped up efforts to deal with the 2,100 flights it has cancelled during the next six weeks.Ryanair has stepped up efforts to deal with the 2,100 flights it has cancelled during the next six weeks.
It says all 315,000 customers received emails on Monday, advising them of the flight changes and offering alternative flights and refunds.It says all 315,000 customers received emails on Monday, advising them of the flight changes and offering alternative flights and refunds.
But Which? said it should make its compensation obligations clear.But Which? said it should make its compensation obligations clear.
Ryanair said that by the end of Wednesday, it expected to have reassigned 55% of the customers - 175,000 - to other Ryanair flights.Ryanair said that by the end of Wednesday, it expected to have reassigned 55% of the customers - 175,000 - to other Ryanair flights.
Meanwhile, more than 63,000 refunds will have been processed, it said. More than 63,000 refunds will have been processed, it said.
Meanwhile, Ryanair pilots have knocked back a proposal from the carrier to encourage them to work through holiday leave, broadcaster RTE reported.
The airline is cancelling 40 to 50 flights every day for the next six weeks, after it admitted it had "messed up" the planning of pilot holidays.The airline is cancelling 40 to 50 flights every day for the next six weeks, after it admitted it had "messed up" the planning of pilot holidays.
However, the airline's advice to customers on its website does not mention the world "compensation", which customers are entitled to under European legislation.However, the airline's advice to customers on its website does not mention the world "compensation", which customers are entitled to under European legislation.
The Ryanair website only says: "We understand that flight cancellations may cause distress and we will accommodate your option of choice wherever possible, while complying with EU Regulation 261/2004."The Ryanair website only says: "We understand that flight cancellations may cause distress and we will accommodate your option of choice wherever possible, while complying with EU Regulation 261/2004."
Which? took a dim view of this oblique approach and said compensation should be paid automatically.Which? took a dim view of this oblique approach and said compensation should be paid automatically.
Its spokesman, Alex Neill, said: "Ryanair's approach to informing affected passengers about compensation falls woefully short.Its spokesman, Alex Neill, said: "Ryanair's approach to informing affected passengers about compensation falls woefully short.
"It is legally required to spell out compensation rules when a flight is cancelled and, in our view, has so far failed to do that, leaving passengers hunting around for information."It is legally required to spell out compensation rules when a flight is cancelled and, in our view, has so far failed to do that, leaving passengers hunting around for information.
"This is another blow for the thousands of passengers who have already had to endure huge inconvenience as a result of this fiasco," she added."This is another blow for the thousands of passengers who have already had to endure huge inconvenience as a result of this fiasco," she added.
Ryanair estimates that the episode will cost it up to 20m euros (£17.7m), though this figure could eventually be higher, as the airline's estimate amounts to only 63 euros per affected passenger.Ryanair estimates that the episode will cost it up to 20m euros (£17.7m), though this figure could eventually be higher, as the airline's estimate amounts to only 63 euros per affected passenger.
The total number of passengers affected is, however, lower than the airline's original figure of 390,000 because Ryanair's planes were only 70% booked in October, compared with 90% full in September.The total number of passengers affected is, however, lower than the airline's original figure of 390,000 because Ryanair's planes were only 70% booked in October, compared with 90% full in September.
The airline also said it had taken on extra office staff to deal with the backlog of flight changes and compensation requests.The airline also said it had taken on extra office staff to deal with the backlog of flight changes and compensation requests.
It added that it hoped to have dealt with more than 95% of the affected customers by the end of this week.It added that it hoped to have dealt with more than 95% of the affected customers by the end of this week.
Kenny Jacobs, Ryanair's chief marketing officer, apologised again for its mistakes.Kenny Jacobs, Ryanair's chief marketing officer, apologised again for its mistakes.
"We have taken on extra customer service teams to speed up the rate at which we accommodate and action alternative flight requests or refund applications," he said."We have taken on extra customer service teams to speed up the rate at which we accommodate and action alternative flight requests or refund applications," he said.
"We expect to have the vast majority of these completed by the end of this week."We expect to have the vast majority of these completed by the end of this week.
"The vast majority of these requests are being dealt with online, but as our call centres and chat lines are extremely busy, we ask affected customers to bear with us as we do everything we can to respond to their requests and try to resolve any problems we have created for them, for which we again sincerely apologise," he added."The vast majority of these requests are being dealt with online, but as our call centres and chat lines are extremely busy, we ask affected customers to bear with us as we do everything we can to respond to their requests and try to resolve any problems we have created for them, for which we again sincerely apologise," he added.