Sir, - I was impressed with the figures recently published relating to Ryanair's profits. I congratulate it, but would like to register a protest at my having unwillingly contributed to its success.
Last year I purchased a return ticket for a trip to France, but became ill with pneumonia prior to leaving. Ryanair was notified of my inability to travel, and when I recovered I sent my ticket to it together with a letter from my doctor confirming my illness. I asked for a refund of the fare. I received a reply stating that the money I had paid was subject to a 100 per cent cancellation fee and I would receive no refund. I wrote again, pointing out two things. Firstly that I know from colleagues, who travelled on both flights, that no seat remained empty, which meant that Ryanair re-sold my seat for full fare on both journeys, and I asked it to justify it being paid twice for my seat, and thereby profiting unfairly from my illness.
My second point was that the money which I had paid included a charge for Irish Government tax, for leaving the country, and a charge for French government tax, for leaving France on the return journey. I pointed out that as I had not left Ireland, no tax was due to either government and since Ryanair had collected this tax from me in advance of travelling, it had no right to keep money collected for such purpose.
In reply, I received a cheque from Ryanair for exactly the amount of the combined taxes without any explanation as to what this represented. It offered no explanation of its policy of charging twice for one seat.
A number of questions arise from this. What is the moral, or legal right of Ryanair to sell a seat for which I have paid, and thereby receive money for which it has provided no service whatsoever? Why did Ryanair, not alone not offer to reimburse me for money collected for Government taxes, but refuse to repay this when I first asked for a refund? Only when I specifically referred to this did it repay me. Is Ryanair gaining from holding money extracted for tax purposes?
I have no idea how many passengers find themselves unable to travel in any one year, but I am convinced that it represents a considerable illegitimate contribution to Ryanair's profits. - Yours, etc., Don Heenan,
Rathvilly,
Co Carlow.