Ryanair denies refund to mother after teenage son dies days before flight
A mother whose 18-year-old son died eleven days before a scheduled Ryanair trip was refused a refund, as the airline said the loss fell outside its 10-day bereavement rule.
Tina McDermott, 45, was set to fly from Newcastle to Alicante on August 30 with her husband when her 18-year-old son Billy died in an accident on August 19. After contacting Ryanair to cancel the trip, she was told the airline’s bereavement policy only applies if the death happens within ten days of the scheduled flight, leaving her ineligible for a refund of the £350 fare. Ryanair provided documentation for an insurance claim and offered travel credit, but McDermott criticized the response as cold and petty, saying it worsened her grieving process.
She called for the airline to introduce a special-circumstances clause for close relatives. Ryanair maintained that its policy was correctly applied. McDermott said she will not fly with the carrier again.
Why it matters
The case highlights how rigid airline refund policies can exacerbate grief for customers facing sudden family loss.
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