FIGHT OR FLIGHT?
Is Ryanair down and how are outages affecting flights today?
See whether you're entitled to compensation if your flight is cancelled
RYANAIR passengers' flights today could be delayed or cancelled due to a huge worldwide tech outage, the carrier has warned.
Several airlines are experiencing problems, with businesses, TV stations, newsrooms and networks also facing serious issues.
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Is Ryanair's website down?
At the time of writing, Ryanair's website is currently fully functional, and they released a statement on it this morning - July 19, 2024 - addressing the possibility of cancelled flights.
It reads: "Affected passengers will be notified and any passengers travelling across the network on Fri 19 July should check their Ryanair app for the latest updates on their flight.
"We advise passengers to arrive at the airport 3 hours in advance of their flight to avoid any disruptions.
"We regret any inconvenience caused to passengers by this 3rd party IT issue, which is outside of Ryanair's control and affect all airlines operating across the network."
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Why is Ryanair experiencing issues today?
Severe problems at Microsoft have crashed computer systems across the world.
The tech issues have affected people's ability to access Microsoft 365 apps and services.
Users of Windows PCs reported their machines involuntarily shutting down, and following attempts to restart they encountered a blue screen they became stuck on — with Windows unable to load.
Cybersecurity software firm CrowdStrike says it has identified the issue behind the global outage as a flawed anti-viral update.
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The firm is reportedly used by Microsoft to handle various updates to its systems.
CrowdStrike pushed out an update to its Falcon software on Friday which is believed to have caused the issue.
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"CrowdStrike is aware of reports of crashes on Windows hosts related to the Falcon Sensor," the company wrote in response.
How will outages affect Ryanair flights today?
Ryanair issued a statement on the morning of July 19, 2024, saying that passengers could face "potential disruption" across its network "due to a global 3rd party system outage".
Ryanair said that anyone whose flights would be affected would be notified, yet still urged passengers who haven't heard from them to arrive at the airport early to avoid problems.
More than 1,000 (1,078) flights in total have been cancelled globally so far, but this figure could rise as the day goes on.
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Figures released by aviation analysts confirm that this is the worst possible time for the outage to happen in Britain, with this weekend (Friday 19 to Sunday, July 21, 2024) set to be the busiest in 2024 so far.
During this period there are 9,075 flights scheduled to depart from UK airports, equating to over 1.6 million seats.
Heathrow Airport has also warned passengers to check with their airlines to see whether or not their flights are on schedule.
A spokesperson said: "Microsoft is currently experiencing a global outage which is impacting select systems at Heathrow.
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"Flights are operational and we are implementing contingency plans to minimise any impact on journeys.
"Passengers are advised to check with their airline for the latest flight information."
Flight compensation rules
What are my rights if my flight is cancelled or delayed?
Under UK law, airlines have to provide compensation if your flight arrives at its destination more than three hours late.
If you're flying to or from the UK, your airline must let you choose a refund or an alternative flight.
You will be able to get your money back for the part of your ticket that you haven't used yet.
So if you booked a return flight and the outbound leg is cancelled, you can get the full cost of the return ticket refunded.
But if travelling is essential, then your airline has to find you an alternative flight. This could even be with another airline.
When am I not entitled to compensation?
The airline doesn't have to give you a refund if the flight was cancelled due to reasons beyond their control, such as extreme weather.
Disruptions caused by things like extreme weather, airport or air traffic control employee strikes or other ‘extraordinary circumstances’ are not eligible for compensation.
Some airlines may stretch the definition of the "extraordinary circumstances" but you can challenge them through the aviation regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Will my insurance cover me if my flight is cancelled?
If you can't claim compensation directly through the airline, your travel insurance may refund you.
Policies vary so you should check the small print, but a delay of eight to 12 hours will normally mean you qualify for some money from your insurer.
Remember to get written confirmation of your delay from the airport as your insurer will need proof.
If your flight is cancelled entirely, you're unlikely to be covered by your insurance.
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