Ryanair refuses refund after Leeds couple miss honeymoon due to illness
Couple say they lost £1,200 after groom's sepsis forced cancellation; airline says fares are non‑refundable but offered date changes
A newly married couple from Leeds say they have lost about £1,200 after missing their paid-for honeymoon when the groom was hospitalised with sepsis, while Ryanair has declined to issue a refund, saying the tickets were non‑refundable but that options to change the booking were offered.
Martyn Altilar, 43, and his wife Melrose, 31, had used money gifted at their wedding to pay for flights and accommodation for a trip to Corfu scheduled for Sept. 9. Martyn said he was struck down with sepsis in August, experienced high fever and vomiting, underwent two operations and was hospitalised for about 10 days. Medical staff advised him to rest for two weeks, which left the couple unable to travel.
The couple told the Mirror they had not taken out travel insurance, which they said was an oversight amid wedding preparations. They said they had already spent roughly £600 on non‑refundable flights and a further £600 on accommodation they were unable to use and that the loss had added stress to Martyn’s recovery. Martyn said the experience had left them "crawling into debt" and urged other travellers to make sure they purchase travel insurance.
Ryanair said the passenger contacted its customer service on Aug. 28 to request a refund and was told that same day the Manchester–Corfu return fares were non‑refundable, and that alternatives were available. A Ryanair spokesperson told the Daily Mail: "All Ryanair air fares are non‑refundable. Therefore, this passenger is not entitled to a refund for their non‑refundable Manchester to Corfu return flights (9 Sept). This passenger contacted customer service on the 28 Aug to request a refund and was informed that same day that their flight was non‑refundable and provided with the option of changing their flight dates, the flight routes or passenger names on the booking, which this passenger did not do." The airline added it encourages passengers to take out travel insurance to cover unexpected events such as illness.
The dispute highlights a common issue for consumers who buy low‑cost, non‑refundable fares: carriers often sell lower‑priced tickets that carry strict change and cancellation terms, leaving passengers reliant on separate travel insurance or paid flexible fares to recover costs when plans are disrupted for medical reasons. Airlines contend that published fare conditions, which customers agree to at purchase, govern eligibility for refunds and changes.
The couple said they were not offered the option to change their flights at the time of booking or subsequently, a claim that differs from Ryanair’s account of its customer‑service response on Aug. 28. They are exploring options to rebook their honeymoon and said they would share their experience to warn others to check insurance coverage before travelling.
Consumer advocates and the travel industry generally recommend passengers review fare conditions and consider travel insurance that covers medical emergencies, but specifics of coverage depend on policy terms and timing of purchase. Ryanair’s statement reiterated the airline’s longstanding policy that its lowest fares are non‑refundable and that travel insurance is the appropriate protection for unforeseen medical problems.
The couple’s case will be watched by consumers weighing the trade-off between cheap, non‑refundable fares and the financial risk of cancelled trips due to illness or other emergencies. For now, Altilar said the immediate priority is his recovery and finding a way to salvage the honeymoon plans in the months ahead.