Holiday Compensation

Holiday Claims and Travel Compensation

One of the most important factors when considering a holiday claim is how the holiday was booked. If you booked a package holiday, the package organiser may be responsible for problems with the holiday itself. This can include issues with accommodation, transport or services that formed part of the package. If you booked each part of the holiday separately, you may still be able to bring a claim. Still, it can be more complicated because responsibility may sit with different providers.

Poor Holiday Accommodation

Poor accommodation is one of the most common reasons people complain about a holiday. If a hotel is advertised as being a short walk from the beach, having a swimming pool or providing certain facilities, you are entitled to expect those features to be available and accurately described.

However, the standard expected will usually depend on what was booked and paid for. A 3-star hotel would not normally be expected to meet the same standard as a 5-star hotel, but it should still be clean, safe and of a reasonable standard. If the accommodation was misdescribed, unsafe, unhygienic, or significantly below the promised standard, you may have grounds to complain or claim compensation.

Holiday Cancellations

Cancellations are another major area of holiday complaints. If your holiday is cancelled, you may be entitled to a refund, an alternative holiday or compensation, depending on the circumstances and the terms of your booking. Holiday companies often rely on their booking terms and conditions, but those terms do not always prevent a valid claim.

If a suitable alternative holiday is offered, you should consider whether it matches what you originally booked. If it does not, you may be able to reject the alternative and request a refund or pursue a claim for any losses caused by the cancellation.

Flight Cancellations and Delays

Flight cancellations and delays can cause significant disruption, especially where they affect connecting travel, accommodation or the overall purpose of the trip. Airlines have obligations to passengers in many circumstances, including assisting with delays and, where applicable, providing compensation.

For example, British Airways cancelled a large number of flights in May 2017 following computer problems. Incidents like this show how technical failures can affect thousands of passengers, but airline regulations may still give passengers rights to care, assistance, refunds, rerouting or compensation depending on the facts.

Package Holiday Protection

When booking a holiday, it is sensible to check whether the operator is part of a recognised travel scheme or trade association. Organisations such as ABTA, AITO and ABTOF may provide standards, guidance or additional protection for travellers. You should also check whether your holiday has financial protection in place in case the travel company goes out of business.

Package holidays can offer stronger protection than holidays where flights, hotels and transfers are all booked separately. This is because the package organiser may be responsible for making sure the holiday provided matches what was sold.

Making a Holiday Claim

Every holiday claim depends on the facts. Important issues can include how the holiday was booked, what was advertised, what went wrong, whether complaints were made at the time and what evidence you have. Photographs, videos, booking confirmations, brochures, emails and complaint records can all help support a claim.

If you believe you may have a valid holiday claim, you should speak to a solicitor who deals with travel and tourism claims. They can advise you on whether you have a case, who the claim should be made against, and what compensation may be available.

Find a Travel Claims Solicitor

To find a solicitor who may be able to help with a holiday claim, use the search facility and select Travel and Tourism, then enter your location.