Ryanair's EU261 Track Record: How Often They Pay
Ryanair is Europe's largest airline and one of the most complained-about when it comes to EU261 compensation. Here is an honest look at Ryanair's track record: how often they pay, how often they reject, and what works when they refuse.
Ryanair's Reputation on EU261
Ryanair has been fined multiple times by European enforcement bodies for systematic non-compliance with EU261. Consumer groups consistently rank Ryanair among the worst airlines for handling compensation claims. Despite this, passengers can and do succeed in getting compensation from Ryanair.
Ryanair's strategy is delay and deny. They reject a high percentage of initial claims, counting on passengers giving up. The passengers who persist and escalate to NEBs or courts almost always win valid claims. Do not accept a first rejection.
Common Ryanair Rejection Tactics
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False extraordinary circumstances: Citing "technical issues" that do not actually qualify.
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Slow response times: Simply not responding to claims for months.
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Voucher offers: Offering Ryanair credit instead of cash.
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Complex claim forms: Making the online process confusing to discourage claims.
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Incorrect rejection letters: Citing wrong legal reasons or wrong delay durations.
For how to counter each tactic, see our Ryanair compensation guide and airline avoidance tactics.
What Works Against Ryanair
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Cite the regulation by name and state the exact compensation amount.
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Set a deadline (14 days) in your initial claim letter.
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Escalate to the NEB in the departure country after 8 weeks of no response.
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For Irish departures, the Commission for Aviation Regulation handles complaints.
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Consider a claims service for persistence. TravelStacks charges 25% for EU261.
For the EU261 claim template, see our guide. For the EasyJet comparison, see our EasyJet vs Ryanair comparison. Check your flight for eligibility.