Ryanair dumps passengers on the wrong island!!

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

Ryanair, probably the airline with the worst passenger relations in Europe, has surpassed itself this time. A storm over Lanzarote prevented them landing there so they diverted to Fuerteventure, the adjoining island. Sensible move you might think, as there were really few options open to them after a 4 1/2 hour flight. There wouldn't have been sufficient fuel to return to the UK.
The big problem came after they disembarked the passengers. Passengers were told that it was up to them (the passengers) to find their own way to Lanzarote, at their own cost.
Apparently Ryanair claim that because the diversion was for reasons outside their control they have fulfilled their obligation under EU legislation!
Maybe Ryanair should rename themselves Mystery Airlines, because it would seem that they decide where they will take you after you have taken off.
LCC seems to mean Little Care Carrier in their case.

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

Now that's a new low! Even those who decide to make the best of things and stay there wouldn't be able to use their round-trip ticket since they would be leaving from the wrong airport. Somehow, I find it hard to believe that this is legal.

[Laurie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Laurie]

Now that's a new low! Even those who decide to make the best of things and stay there wouldn't be able to use their round-trip ticket since they would be leaving from the wrong airport. Somehow, I find it hard to believe that this is legal.

Very bad that the airline didn't reimburse passengers for extra travel costs, but passengers were by no means stuck on Fuerteventura, because there's frequent and relatively inexpensive ferry service between the islands. It's a short trip - about 20 minutes. (15 or 20 Euros fare + possible free bus service between ports and airports.)

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

Very bad that the airline didn't reimburse passengers for extra travel costs, but passengers were by no means stuck on Fuerteventura, because there's frequent and relatively inexpensive ferry service between the islands. It's a short trip - about 20 minutes. (15 or 20 Euros fare + possible free bus service between ports and airports.)

Would the ferries have been running? Remember the flight was diverted because of bad storms.
Though the extra cost is minimal, if a person is traveling with a family, that's alot of extra money to spend, on top of missing out on at least one vacation day and the possibility or losing reservations because of a no-show at check-in. (though I would hope people would have enough sense to call the resort/hotel and let them know they are delayed)

[Keitht Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Keitht]

Getting back onto Lanzarote is only the beginning. It's then about another 20 miles to the airport or 30 if staying at Costa Teguise. Organising either transport from the ferry terminal to other locations, or renting a car in Playa Blanca with the additional cost of 1 way rental with return at the airport are all additional hassles.

[Laurie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Laurie]

I don't disagree it's a hassle and an expense - though at least one ferry line provides free bus service between ports and airports - so whenever ferry service was resumed if it was delayed, the dumped passengers could have gotten from the wrong airport to the right airport for the price of their ferry ticket, and not a huge hassle, and a few hours of their time.

Many of us have incurred additional expenses from weather-related delays on US airlines as well (inc costs of hotel room and meals), which in the old days they'd have covered, but more recently weren't covered because they were deemed "not their fault." This seems to be standard airline policy these days, whereas in the past they spent a little cash to avoid a lot of bad will.

I'm no fan of RyanAir by the way - in one experience, their airport luggage scales showed higher weights than UK Royal Mail postage scales, which our party of 4 had taken the time to wheel to the po and make sure everything was under RyanAir's weight limits. So then we were hit with extra charges, hassles and delays at the check-in line. I had to wonder who calibrated their scales, and whether they intentionally fudged it a little ...

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Thank god there not doctors or they would operate on the wrong leg.