Ryanair customers slam airline’s car hire price promise as they say it’s impossible to actually make a claim
RYANAIR customers have branded the airline’s car hire price promise a scam as the strict terms and conditions mean it’s almost impossible to make a claim.
The airline offers a lowest price guarantee where if their customers are able to find a cheaper hire care, they will offer the hire car for free.
On its website, Ryanair said: “We promise you the lowest car hire prices. We work with leading car hire companies, negotiating the cheapest price for Ryanair customers. If you find a car hire for less, let us know and we’ll give you your car hire for FREE!”
The page then links to the form customers need to complete to make a claim and a list of terms and conditions.
While initially enticing, customers have taken to social media to complain about the fact that the terms are conditions are so strict, they’re finding it near impossible to make a claim.
Many have seen their claims rejected over the small print.
Gemma Lawson tweeted: “@Ryanair your price promise on car hire is a scam!! I have a cheaper quote but you won’t accept it because the time is minutes out. What a joke!! Don’t ever book with Ryanair.”
Tim Fletcher said: “@Ryanair shame on you -didn’t honour your car hire price guarantee because I was 42 mins late claiming. Take note folks 1hr time frame to obtain form and submit screenshot of alternative.”
And Hamish Robertson wrote: “@Ryanair – please stop misleading advertising? ‘If you find a car hire for less, your hire is free’. I did, I claimed, was told as I didn’t use same company Ryanair used, it is void. That is like you saying ‘Guaranteed cheapest airfares in Europe – unless you use EasyJet’.”
The car hire price promise means that customers have to find a deal that’s identical to their booking in every single way.
They have to submit their claims to the airline within an hour of booking a hire car with Ryanair – and it must be done during office hours.
Plus, customers can’t use comparison sites to help them.
At least a dozen customers have contacted BBC’s Watchdog program about the issue in the last year and say that because it’s so unlikely that they will find a wholly identical quote, it’s “essentially impossible for them to claim”.
Ryanair told the program: “Ryanair’s car hire Price Promise is part of our commitment to providing customers with the best value for money on car hire.
“Since the beginning of 2019, our car hire partner (CarTrawler) has processed over 150 successful Price Promise claims.”
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Ryanair announced a number of customer care improvements earlier this year in a bid to change their image.
However, the airline was slammed following a series of incidents involving young autistic passengers.
The new series of BBC Watchdog Live starts tonight (Wednesday 1st May) at 8pm on BBC One and on iPlayer