Furious Ryanair customers have accused the budget airline of 'blackmail' after it apparently blocked passengers from taking flights over disputed refunds.
Customers of the Irish low-cost airline claim they have been barred from Ryanair flights until they repay money 'refunded' for trips missed during the Covid pandemic.
Ryanair customers say the airline refused to refund them for flights they backed out from due to advice at the time by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) not to travel.
They turned to credit card 'chargebacks' - a function where credit and debit card users can reverse a disputed transaction - to reclaim their money.
But when the same customers attempted to book new flights through the budget airline refused to let them fly until they had paid back the cash, a MoneySavingExpert investigation found.
Some customers even claim they were met with payment demands at check-in, just hours before they were due to fly.
Personal finance experts have described the decision to block people from flying due to the refund row as 'outrageous', while a Ryanair customer took to social media to accuse the budge airline of 'blackmail'.
But Ryanair has defended the decision, saying it has the right to stop passengers from flying if they owe the company money.
Ryanair (pictured) customers say the airline refused to refund them for flights they backed out from due to advice at the time by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) not to travel
The row between the airline and customers is over the chargeback function available through payment cards.
Customers of certain credit card firms, such as Amex, Mastercard and Visa, can use chargeback to reclaim disputed payments made on debit, credit and charge cards.
The process is usually used when a company refuses a refund and, if requested, the bank will step in to claim the money back from the
