I was travelling from London to Kaunas (Lithuania) and was refused entry because I did not have a biometric passport, even though a Ryanair officer at the gate before boarding checked my passport, consulted with her colleague on the radio and said I could board the plane.

The Lithuanian officers at the passport check desk said that with my old type of passport I actually need a visa. They said Ryanair will send me back, that they should pay for my ticket back and also a huge fine (4000 Euros) to Lithuania.

I was deported the next day (was held in the airport) on the first available flight back to London and was immediately charged by Ryanair for that ticket back (which was 10 times more expensive than my original return ticket). After claiming a refund, Ryanair referenced to their Terms and Conditions, which says:

> ...if you are refused entry into any country due to immigration
> inadmissibility, you will be required to pay any fines levied against
> us by the Government or immigration authority concerned, plus the cost
> of transporting you from that country back to your point of origin or
> elsewhere. Any costs incurred by us on your behalf will be levied via
> deduction from the credit/debit card used to make the booking.

I understand I had to be more thorough in checking the laws but the Ryanair officers are there to check if all the "silly passengers" have proper documents.
Do you think in this case it is reasonable to claim a refund or should I expect that 4000 Euro charge as well? I am a student and I have nowhere near that amount of money... I've done some research online and there are cases when passengers are charged for the return ticket but I could not find anyone who actually was charged for those massive fines from the receiving country to the airline company.