A Ryanair-booked transfer crashed into a carport ceiling in Mallorca, shattering the sunroof and covering six passengers in glass. The driver demanded passengers use the damaged vehicle or forfeit refunds. When travelers spent €77 on alternative transport, Ryanair immediately closed all refund claims.
The incident exposes dangerous accountability gaps when booking third-party services through budget airlines.
"We Were All Shouting Stop"
"As soon as we all sat down the driver moved forward and hit the car port on the roof," the traveler wrote on r/travel, describing the terrifying moments as their group tried to prevent the crash.
"We were all shouting stop and she carried on driving and smashed the sunroof window, causing the glass to shatter all over us."
The transfer was meant to take six passengers from their Airbnb in Alcudia to Palma airport. Instead, it became a consumer rights nightmare.
The Driver's Ultimatum
With shattered glass throughout the vehicle, the driver spoke no English. Through Google Translate, the traveler "politely" asked if another taxi was being sent.
The response was stunning: "You either get in this taxi or you don't get your money back."
The driver continued sweeping shattered glass "all onto the driveway" while waiting for the passengers' decision.
Facing a flight they couldn't miss and a vehicle they didn't feel safe in, the group made the only practical choice: they spent €77 on a different taxi to reach the airport.
They had already paid £220 for the Ryanair-booked transfer, which they used only one way.
Ryanair's Automated Rejection
Attempting to claim a refund revealed another problem:
