This may be a temporary glitch due to all the unexpected problems with flight cancellations at the moment. I booked a return Ryanair flight for a friend. (Yes, I know, but I'm the one they all turn to for assistance in travel plans) This morning her outward flight (Dublin-Liverpool) was cancelled for tomorrow, Wednesday 21st, but when I tried to re-book, it will only allow me to change the outward flight, NOT the return (on Saturday 24th) (which has not been cancelled) (yet). She wants to try next week instead. When I tried to re-book, it said something like Are you sure? Your return is before your outward. I tried to phone, but couldn't get through so I sent a fax, but am awaiting a reply.

However my wife had a return flight booked for Thursday 22nd to Monday 26th Dublin-Gatwick, also now the outward leg is cancelled but not the return, & the Ryanair website DOES allow me to change & re-book both of those (although she will probably take the refund option instead).

I realise they are getting lots of extra traffic on the re-book section, but the email I received this morning says the re-book has to be done today 20th April (Ireland time). I'll try again later, but I think I'm doing everything right! Maybe it's just the link that expires today.

Anyone else with problems like this?

hello!

I'm having some issues with the re-booking too. I had 2 flights booked for tomorrow, a day-trip to Paris.

Yesterday only the outgoing flight was available to be re-booked, since it was at 6 am and it had previously been canceled. This morning ryanair confirmed the stop of the return flight too and now it lets me change that one too.

However, when I get to the link they give to change your reservation, I select different flights, click on continue, but then the website wants me to pay the penalty fee for the change, and also the difference in the prices of the two tickets.

I read too that the last day to re-book is today, so don't really know what I'm supposed to do!

My own flight last Saturday from east Midlands to Dublin was cancelled Friday eve & I have not yet done anything about it (except for coming home to Ireland by train & ferry). I just checked & I can still re-book it if I want to, but I will probably claim a refund of my €6 fare.

I'm not sure if this helps any but I believe that the flights with the discount airlines are booked as two separate (unlinked) single flights and not a return (despite what it might say on the booking pages.) Hence if your outbound flight is cancelled your return flight is viewed as still being valid. It also means that the requirement for the airline to look after you if you are stranded and can't get back (which would apply if you had a proper return ticket) doesn't apply.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8626866.stm

Interesting, but when I looked at my wife's flights, I could change both even though only the outbound section is cancelled. But I've just checked again and they apparently are offering a free change of flight, but only for the outward, but a charge for the return. That's what it looks like, anyway.

Mind you, here's something odd. The list of cancelled flights includes all 4 flights Dublin to Gatwick on Thursday 22, but if you search to buy flights then, they appear available! I could almost buy one, but I didn't enter my card number. I guess all these cancellations are unprecedented.

Ryanair's website can be mighty flaky.....

Just to clarify, when I tried to re-book my friend's flight to Liverpool & back, the "change return flight" box is unavailable. If I try to change to outward flight, I can choose dates & times, with "Free Move Allowed" in italics under the price. If I select one for Thursday 29th & click NEXT, a message says something like "Your outward flight must land at least one hour before the return flight departs" so I cannot proceed.

If I go to View my booking it gives the details of the flights & says: Important Notice -
One or more of your flights has been modified. Please select the "Change Flights" link on the left to make the necessary adjustments to your flights at no cost.

I'm giving up for now, I may try again tomorrow. I expect there are huge volumes of people checking this out.

Hooray! I gave up using the 'net & reverted back to the phone. After being on hold for 20 minutes this morning I finally got through to a real person who re-booked both return flights for me, at no extra cost (apart from the phone call, but at least it wasn't a premium rate). Ryanair man didn't know why I couldn't re-book them myself, possibly something to do with whether or not they had already checked in on-line (but one had for both flights, the other hadn't). So, yes, even though the return flights back to Ireland are still flying, Ryanair allowed me to change them without charge. So it's a good thing they were booked as returns (with the same reference number)and not separately as 2 singles.

My wife had an email from Ryanair yesterday, 21st, confirming that today's flight is cancelled, also saying that she had to re-book by the 20th. Maybe it's a classic case of "computer error"

Hastobe_Katt, there was a lot of talk yesterday on Irish radio about the extent to which airlines should be held responsible for caring for people stranded, and as you probably have heard, Michael O'Leary is apparently refusing to play ball and may be challenged in the courts. I'm sure there is lots of information and discussion about this elsewhere. Meanwhile another Ryanair sale is on, with €3/£3 flights available for May & June.

latest

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8636461.stm

Glad things worked out for you and your friends.

Ryanair are now saying they will abide by EU rules. No compensation is payable as it is not the airlines fault, but they will refund/rebook at no charge. I think they are still be stingy on the issue of care - ie over food and hotels etc, but I'm not certain of that.