I am due to travel to Dublin by Ryanair on Monday 26 Feb 2007. Due to a bereavement we are now unable to travel. According to Ryanair policy we can claim and may get a refund of Government taxes only and will have to pay £20 for the privilege of asking! Airport taxes are non refundable but surely it should be, after all. We are not using the airport facility. Are we right and can I get any redress? Ray Phipps, by email

A response from Ryanair: Mr Phipps has not contacted us and I assume he has not seen the relevant section of our website (below). If Mr Phipps gets in touch with our reservations centre or indeed sends me an email with the details, we will deal with it directly.

From www.ryanair.com: One of my family members has died and I don't want to travel. What can I do?

Should this happen to an immediate member of your family before you have started your journey, please contact your local Ryanair call centre who will make immediate arrangements to cancel your booking. However, in order for anybody to provide you with assistance, you will be asked to provide full certification of the situation to support your refund request.

If you have already started your journey please contact your local Ryanair call centre, who will work with you in making arrangements for your return journey.

For information, Ryanair considers the following family members as 'immediate':

Spouse
Children
Adopted children
Parents
Brothers & Sisters (including step/half brothers and sisters)
Grandparents & Grandchildren
Father/Mother-in-law
Brother/Sister-in-law
Son/Daughter-in-law.

Note: If any of this happens to a travel companion that you are booked to travel with and you no longer wish to/are unable to use your ticket, the same consideration will be given to you

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