A grieving woman from the United Kingdom is now blasting Ryanair for charging her more than $140 to change the name on a booking. The flight was meant for her sister, who died in a car accident before the trip.
Anita Kozlowska, 36, booked a trip to Lanzarote, Spain, for her sister, who would have celebrated her 30th birthday in August. The trip was slated for September 2025.
However, her sister---along with their mother and the woman's nephew and niece (aged 3 and 6, respectively---died in a car accident in November 2024 after their vehicle was struck by a train in Poland.
After the funeral, Anita decided to amend the booking and take her cousin on the trip instead but found that she could not change the name without paying a fee of $144, per the New York Post.
Ryanair's Name Change Policy
Anita contacted the flight carrier and was told they had no existing policy for amending booking reservations. The airline offered her a full refund, but Anita refused.
"I never wanted that because I was still planning on going on holiday. With the refund, the problem is I am not guaranteed that I will be able to get on the same flight and that I will be able to sit with my little cousin, who is underage and very anxious," she said. "Also, it could cost me more than I have already paid for it."
She also said the airline refused to budge even after she explained her situation, adding that the terms and conditions were agreed upon at the time of reservation.
Ryanair's "Table of Fees" showed the standard online name change fee is generally € / £115 per passenger per one-way flight ($141, as of Thursday's conversions). If you call Ryanair or go through a travel agent/airport desk, it may be higher, at € / £160 ($196).
Anita said she would likely pay for the name change fee but noted that not all passengers may have the means to do so.
Ryanair's Issues
The budget carrier has previously come under fire for multiple issues, including excessive fees. Many passengers have complained that the airline was charging them $60 in baggage fees even if their luggage fits the sizer.
In another case, a senior UK passenger accused the airline of charging her $100 in bag-checking fee but allowed "younger, attractive" passengers to board without additional charges.
Multiple surveys have also named Ryanair among the lowest-ranking carriers for customer service, complaint handling, and ancillary fees.
