Experiencing massive hassle with Ryanair booking..

Mr rebel

First of all, apologies for the long-winded post!
Ok, so last night I booked a return flight to Berlin with Ryanair for next month, but unfortunately I made a silly mistake and ended up booking the wrong dates.
It was only when I got my confirmation email did I realise that I had booked the wrong dates and went to contact them immediately to change my flights.
I got through to them on their live webchat service and the rep was very sound and posted a link for me to click on that would allow me to change my booking with only paying the cost difference between the flights.

I couldn't believe how well it went and clicked on the link to pay the outstanding balance for my new flights. Unfortunately, for some bizarre reason my payment wouldn't go through and I kept getting a message that "contact info missing or invalid". As it was gone 9pm at this stage and their customer service was closed, I had no choice but to give up for the night.
I tried clicking on the link again this morning but it was invalid and my booking was returned to its original form:(
I tried ringing them (but of course impossible to get through) so I used their live webchat service again. The rep this time charged €20 more to change the booking (but still cheap enough) and this time she took my card details and "paid" for me. Everything seemed to go perfect this time and she said I would receive a new updated itinerary email in a few minutes.
I checked my bank account and saw the funds she took were "pending" so I was glad the payment was going through.

Fast forward an hour later and still no email, but I brought up my flight details on their website and was delighted to see my dates had been changed to the correct ones so I checked in and printed off my boarding passes.
However, just now I finally received an email from Ryanair and it says my payment was declined and my request for the flight changes was denied, and my booking would go back to its original form.
I immediately checked my flight details on their website and it still has it down for my requested flight dates that I've already printed out my boarding passes for.
The fee they took is also still pending on my bank account and I assume that will go through tomorrow.

I am just very confused right now and don't know what to do?!
I assume now I have my boarding passes already printed, I might be ok?
I also don't want to turn up at the airport next month and find I won't be granted access to board the plane:(
Any advice on what I should do next? Should I just try and contact them again and see what the status of my booking is?
This is a nightmare:(

Thoie

Try talking to your bank and finding out if they really have been declining payment, and if so, why?

kerry4sam

For Definite contact them again, but, after you contact your bank to know for sure the situation with the monies. Have your facts before getting back onto Ryanair as they've tried to assist you twice now with this.

Would not recommend chancing it with the boarding passes as they are scanned at the airport. If/Since Ryanair have told you not valid and booking would return to original, those boarding passes would not be valid on the date.

Phone your bank.
Contact Ryanair again with details about the monies.
Ensure you ask about the boarding cards once payment does eventually go through.
With different people handling this now, wait for next Ryanair email and try check-in again with those details. Alternatively, go to check-in desk at airport and get your 'new' boarding pass from there.

Let us know how this goes for you with,
Thanks,
kerry4sam

Mr rebel

Thanks for the info guys, I'll have to wait until tomorrow to contact my bank and check everything is ok on their end.
I forgot to mention that in the "declined payment" email they sent, they said my requested flight dates were returned to the original booking as stated in the email.....and those dates stated in the email were the new ones I wanted and had changed to?!
I'm thinking that email was most likely a glitch but I'll still follow it up to make sure.

Mr rebel

So I got though to AIB a while ago and as I thought, there is no problems on their end...they granted Ryanair authorisation to take the funds so I don't know what the issue is and why they sent that email:(
The guy I was speaking to informed me there seems to be a lot of complaints about Ryanair-related payments lately.
I'll contact Ryanair tomorrow anyway to see what the current status of my booking is. I don't know if should I tell them about the email first saying payment was denied or hold off if they say everything appears to be in order

Mr rebel

So the update is they have actually taken the money from my account after emailing me that my payment was declined.
So now I have paid extra to change the flights but will be be denied boarding as I assume they have cancelled my booking....what a mess:(
I can't afford to fork out €200 for new flights either:(

kerry4sam

Mr rebel wrote: »

So the update is they have actually taken the money from my account after emailing me that my payment was declined.
So now I have paid extra to change the flights but will be be denied boarding as I assume they have cancelled my booking....what a mess:(
I can't afford to fork out €200 for new flights either:(

Just take a screenshot of your bank details online showing they've taken the money;
Contact them and show them;
Ask them for new e-mail or whether your current check-in will be okay.

That should sort it for you,
kerry4sam

Mr rebel

Thanks, I think it is sorted now:)
Contacted Ryanair again and asked could they confirm the status of my booking, explaining the declined email I had received from them.
The rep said things looked in order and emailed me a new flight itinerary with the changed flight dates.
I think I'll just print out new boarding passes now just to be on the safe side.

Mr rebel

Ok, well things have taken yet another bizarre turn.....just received an email from Ryanair confirming my "airport special assistance" has been granted for both legs of the flights
Suffice to say, I definitely did not request this service so don't know why I have received such an email?!
I've lost the will to contact them yet again by this stage to say there has been a mistake and I certainly did not pick to avail of this particular service:(
Is it free anyway? Perhaps I can just ignore it.

naughtysmurf

Mr rebel wrote: »

Ok, well things have taken yet another bizarre turn.....just received an email from Ryanair confirming my "airport special assistance" has been granted for both legs of the flights
Suffice to say, I definitely did not request this service so don't know why I have received such an email?!
I've lost the will to contact them yet again by this stage to say there has been a mistake and I certainly did not pick to avail of this particular service:(
Is it free anyway? Perhaps I can just ignore it.

Yeah it's free, have a load of pints, climb into the wheelchair & you will be brought out to the plane, seriously though, just don't enquire about the special assistance at the airport & board normally

Mr rebel

Lol, I was tempted to do that!
They emailed me again this afternoon saying that email was a mistake and to ignore it....geez, this has been an eventful booking.