Operator urges clients to donate Ryanair refunds to charity

Simpson Travel is encouraging clients to donate refunds to charity for cancelled flights recovered from Ryanair due to the Covid crisis.

The specialist operator hopes to raise almost £50,000 with the initiative.

The company has fully refunded or rebooked clients who had booked a package holiday using Ryanair flights but whose holidays were cancelled as a result of the pandemic.

But it not been able to recoup any of the costs from the budget carrier.

This is due to the Ryanair’s assertion that Simpson Travel is acting as a ‘third party’ and are therefore in breach of its T&Cs.

As a result, the Mediterranean hotel and villa holiday operator is encouraging clients to reclaim the costs directly from Ryanair and donate the money to charity instead.

Ryanair will refund customers if they apply directly online. Clients have been contacted suggesting that they approach the airline directly for money owned to Simpson Travel for their flights and has invited clients to donate their refunds to a charity of their choice.    

Operations director Ed Pyke said: “We’re delighted to report that initial feedback from clients has been overwhelmingly positive and are hopeful that we will raise a substantial amount to help for some very important causes. If everyone chooses to participate, it could be as much as £48,000.”

He added: “This has been an unbelievably difficult year for so many people, including the travel industry.

“As a company, we are committed to giving back wherever we can and are keen to try to make a positive out of a negative.

“We honoured our commitment to all clients affected by a cancellation, either by offering a full refund, deferring and rebooking their flights with another airline, or by transferring the balance of their holiday to a suitable alternative. 

“In the case of our package holidays, we were often required to refund and re-arrange flights bought on behalf of our clients before we had received a refund from the airline.

“Though the process was slow, we were eventually able to recover the cost of these flights from BA, Easyjet, Jet2 and others. Alas, in the case of Ryanair, we have not received a penny.

“Whilst we have followed all necessary and sensible protocols, Ryanair maintain we are a third party and as such are refusing to deal with us and all other tour operators who bought their flights in good faith.

“We are determined to try to make the best of a challenging situation and have come up with what we hope is a win-win idea for our customers.”