Ryanair Complaints – How to complain about a Ryanair flight?

AviationADR, sanctioned by the Civil Aviation Authority (the aviation regulator), functions as an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) body for aviation consumers. If you find yourself in a dispute with Ryanair and are seeking to escalate your complaint for a prompt resolution, we’re here to facilitate its settlement.

What to do if your Ryanair flight is cancelled or delayed?

If you’ve encountered an issue with a Ryanair service or product, such as a flight delay exceeding three hours, cancellation, loss or damage of luggage, or unsatisfactory service, and you’ve previously raised a complaint with Ryanair, our ‘airline’ complaint form is designed to initiate your complaint process. To file a claim against Ryanair, note that the flight must have departed from or arrived in Spain.

START YOUR RYANAIR COMPLAINT HERE

Before making a complaint about Ryanair

Please note that to be eligible to submit a complaint against Ryanair, you must have initially voiced your issue directly to Ryanair in writing.

Following your complaint, you should either have received a final written response (often referred to as a ‘deadlock letter’) or have granted Ryanair an eight-week window to respond to your grievance. Aviation Dispute Resolution solely handles unresolved complaints.

Which complaints does the airline sector cover?

Which Complaints Fall Within the Airline Sector’s Purview? The airline sector caters to complaints against any Ryanair flight that was scheduled to arrive or depart from a Spanish airport.

What complaints can AviationADR deal with?

We are capable of managing most disputes between consumers and airlines, including disputes revolving around various issues.

Cancelled flights
Delayed flights
Damaged, lost or delayed luggage
Destruction, damage or loss of items worn or carried by a passenger
Problems faced by disabled passengers or passengers with reduced mobility
Issues of unfair trading
Pricing
Misrepresentation

Passenger Advice

START YOUR RYANAIR COMPLAINT HERE

How to make a complaint?

You can make a complaint online by clicking here or by filling out a paper version which can be downloaded here.

For more information about AviationADR, please view our FAQ page.

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RyanAir Complaints FAQs

How do I complain about a Ryanair flight?

Complain to Ryanair first in writing: use the Ryanair customer contact form or their live chat, and keep a copy of your complaint and any reference number. Phone calls alone are not sufficient. If Ryanair issues a final response (“deadlock letter”) that you disagree with, or eight weeks pass without a resolution, you can escalate the Ryanair complaint to AviationADR, the CAA-approved Alternative Dispute Resolution scheme. AviationADR is free for passengers and decisions are binding on Ryanair.

How much compensation can I get for a Ryanair delay?

Under UK261 (the UK’s retained version of EU Regulation 261/2004), Ryanair delay compensation is fixed by flight distance: €250 (~£220) for flights up to 1,500 km, €400 (~£350) for flights of 1,500–3,500 km, and up to €600 (~£520) for flights over 3,500 km delayed by four or more hours. Your flight must have arrived at least three hours late at the final destination. Because the majority of Ryanair’s UK routes are short-haul, the average payout from a UK airport is €250. Ryanair does not have to pay when the delay is caused by genuine extraordinary circumstances (e.g. severe weather or ATC strikes), but CAA guidance confirms that routine technical faults and crew shortages do not qualify.

How long does a Ryanair complaint take to resolve?

Ryanair has up to 28 days to respond to AviationADR once a complaint is filed. After that, AviationADR resolves most Ryanair complaints within an average of 30 days from receipt of the full file, and all cases within a maximum of 90 days, the statutory limit for CAA-approved ADR schemes. If you complained to Ryanair directly first, you should allow them up to eight weeks before escalating to AviationADR.

Can I claim for a Ryanair cancellation?

Yes. If Ryanair cancelled your flight with fewer than 14 days’ notice and the cancellation was not caused by extraordinary circumstances, you can claim compensation under UK261 at the same €250–€600 amounts that apply to delays. Separately from compensation, you are entitled to choose between a full refund within 7 days or re-routing to your final destination, this is the passenger’s choice under UK261, not the airline’s. If Ryanair provided an alternative flight, the compensation may be reduced by 50% depending on how close the re-routed arrival was to the original. If Ryanair refuses your claim, AviationADR can adjudicate.

What is the Ryanair ADR process?

ADR stands for Alternative Dispute Resolution — an independent way to resolve disputes without going to court. AviationADR is the CAA-approved ADR scheme that handles unresolved Ryanair flight complaints for UK departures and arrivals. The process is simple: (1) complain to Ryanair in writing; (2) wait for their final response or for eight weeks to pass; (3) submit your complaint to AviationADR online, by phone on 0203 540 8063, or by post; (4) AviationADR contacts Ryanair for their side, reviews the evidence, and issues a decision. The service is free for passengers, and if you accept the outcome it is legally binding on Ryanair.

Do I need a solicitor to claim Ryanair compensation?

No. You don’t need a solicitor or a claims management company to claim Ryanair compensation under UK261. You can complain to Ryanair directly for free, and if they refuse or don’t resolve the matter within eight weeks you can escalate to AviationADR at no cost. Claims companies and no-win-no-fee solicitors typically charge 25–35% of your compensation plus VAT, on a £350 claim that’s over £100 taken from your payout. AviationADR is CAA-approved, impartial, and its decisions are binding on Ryanair, so using a paid representative rarely adds value for a straightforward UK261 claim.