expedia flight & hotel booking - dynamic packagaing

stratford_2

Hi there

I've been searching around and I'm slightly confused re. the protection for anything booked through expedia via the flight & hotel option.

Am I correct in thinking this is not a package holiday (event though it consists of 2 or more elements) and it's a dynamic package?

If it's not a package holiday what protection do I have? I note that Expedia say they are ATOL bonded. Would I be covered if the airline went bust, was delayed etc. and affected the accommodation element. For example, if a BA flight component was booked (on a date not currently in the strike period) and there was a strike would I be able to get a refund for the accommodation through expedia?

Likwise, what would the situation be with a flight and hotel booking through ba.com?

Many thanks

Stratford

richardw

Perhaps pick an airline that isn't likely to go bust or isn't in dispute with its employees.

delwynshd

If the flights were to go bust or on strike it wouldnt cover the hotel
depends where your travelling to

budgetflyer

If theres not a coach with a grumpy driver, another 45 drunk passengers with the "just out" Newcastle, Celtic or Rangers tops on, a slightly plump, but cheery, despite it being 3.30AM, girl in a pale blue + yellow uniform,+ clipboard, saying "Hi everyone + welcome to Shagaloof " then you are NOT on a package holiday.

BA would probably refund you though, they are too nice + proper to ever be cut throat + ruthless enough to ever make a profit.

bagand96

The Expedia.co.uk site states the following:

Holidays created by you on Expedia.co.uk which include air travel are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under ATOL number 5788. For all tour operator holidays booked through Expedia.co.uk you will be protected by the relevant tour operator's ATOL

I believe flight and hotels through Expedia are ATOL protected under their own ATOL. The word Holidays in the above is a hyperlink that takes you to the "Flight+Hotel" search page so therefore I believe you are ATOL protected.

That said ATOL is geared up to protect you when an airline fails, I am not sure where is would stand, or if it would have any protection in the case of industrial action (more a travel insurance issue?)

Alan_Bowen

The ATOL actually provides protection against the company, in this case Expedia, going bust. It is a question of whether what is being sold is a package or not which determines what happens when a supplier such as a hotel or airline goes pop. If Expedia sell the two items as a package, then it is their responsibility to replace the part that has disappeared, and I think this is the way they operate, but if you buy two unconnected parts of a holiday, such as occurs with the likes of Travel Republic and On the Beach, neither of whom have an ATOL, then you may have to depend on an insurance policy to give you your money back. The problem is that replacing the piece that no longer exists is at your own expense which is not the case if you buy a package holiday

stratford_2

Thanks for the replies. I think Alan has most understood my intial questions - do Expedia treat flight and hotel bookings as a package under the package holiday regulations? i.e. if one or more of the elements is not fulfilled must they be replaced, at (in this case) Expedia's expense, or is it a travel insurance issue as bagand96 considers?

delwyn, any thoughts?

minxtress

Taken from Expedias own website
Holidays created by you on Expedia.co.uk which include air travel are protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under ATOL number 5788. For all tour operator holidays booked through Expedia.co.uk you will be protected by the relevant tour operator's ATOL. Please refer to the tour operator's terms and conditions for details of their ATOL protection. Travel commencing in the Republic of Ireland to destinations outside the Republic of Ireland are protected under license by the Commission for Aviation Regulation in Ireland, Travel Agent Licence No. 0671 − Expiry Date 31 October 2010.
Expedia Inc. is an Appointed Representative of Mondial Assistance (UK) Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Mondial Assistance FSA registration number is 311909. FSA authorisation can be checked on the FSA register at www.fsa.gov.uk/register

This is telling you that if an airline fails/ you can claim off the civil aviation authoritys Atol, which means they dont have one by the looks of it, and you would only have come back through the CAA, who will look closely if you have booked it using a credit card etc. And if you book a tour operators own package ie Thomas Cook, through expedia website, you'l be covered by Thomas Cooks Atol.
There is a lot of uncertainty at the moment and a lot of ongoing disputes over who is acting as principal/agent when a part of a holiday fails and the customer is left with the other part ie ailine fails, whi is responsible for the cost of the accom.
Hope this helps

richardw

stratford wrote: »

do Expedia treat flight and hotel bookings as a package under the package holiday regulations?

I don't think they do.