On The Beach Cancellation?

cakey87_2

Hello

I am hoping someone could help me, I have never really booked a package holiday online before so I am a bit clueless on if this is right.

I booked a holiday for me, partner and son (23 months old at time of travel) the total holiday cost was £885 and I paid a deposit of £150. Since booking the holiday around 3 weeks ago me and my partner (ex) are now no longer together. I want to cancel the holiday as unfortunately I have no one else who can take my partners place. I went through my online booking to cancel the holiday thinking I would be losing £150 but no more, I then nearly fell off my chair to find out that the cost of cancelling will be £405!!!

A breakdown of the costs incurred
Flight Operator cancellation cost £378.46
Transfer costs £27.15
On the beach cancellation fee £150.00

The cost for cancellation of flights is actually more than the flights came to in total at £129 pp. Is this standard for holiday cancellations? I always assumed you would lose your deposit and that was it I cant believe it is going to cost me almost the full holiday cost to cancel!

Many Thanks

richardw

Can't you and the infant still go?

philip1988

Unfortunate situation, but you need to look at their terms and conditions that you agreed to when booking.
See below
5.5 Cancellation and Amendment Charges 5.5.1 Travel Supplier's charge + £30.00 per person (if 28 days or more before departure)
5.5.2 Travel Supplier's charge + £150.00 per booking (if within 28 days of departure)
5.5.3 In flight extra requests after booking confirmed: Travel Supplier's charge + £30.00 per request
5.5.4 Pre-booking airline seats after confirmed booking: Travel Supplier's charge + £30.00
5.5.5 Ticket delivery fee (for those departing between 21 - 14 days from date of booking): £15.00 per person
5.5.6 Change of hotel: Cancellation of original hotel + difference (if any) in cost of hotels + £80.00 administration fee
5.5.7 Change of title, initial, first name or surname once booking made: Travel Supplier's charge plus £30.00 per person
5.5.8 In-flight meals after booking confirmed: Travel Supplier's charge plus £30.00 per request
5.5.9 Credit and Debit card charges are non-refundable on cancellation

In future suggest that you either book independently or use a high street travel agent.

As suggested above can you not go without your ex or would your ex buy the holiday off you?

Pollycat

You've not actually booked a package in this instance.


From OTB website:

---

As an online travel agent, we don't sell package holidays, we let you build your own by giving you access to a wide range of cheap flights, hotels and transfer suppliers, saving you money.

---

They put flights and accommodation and maybe transfers together but you are not booking a package and as such don't have the same protection/rights.


For example, if you booked a package holiday and paid a deposit and wanted to cancel, depending on how close to departure you wanted to cancel, you might only lose the deposit.


OTB and similar companies operate differently.
For example, if they have booked flights with Easyjet as part of the deal they put together for you, the flights will have been paid for in full and you would lose the whole of that amount - exactly the same as if you had booked the flights yourself and wanted to cancel (although you can claim taxes back).

Have you asked them why the flight cancellation cost is higher than the original cost of the flights?

Have you asked them what the OTB cancellation charges are for?

When are you due to go on this holiday?

cakey87_2

I dont really feel comfortable going on my own with a toddler however it is something I could look at I suppose, I think I have obviously been a bit niave thinking all I would lose is a deposit! just dont understand how the charges are so high for the airline fees! its with Ryanair, I didnt realise until after booking that third party bookings are not allowed I also cant see anything online about cancellation fees with Ryanair. Does anyone have any other suggestions with this or is this just the norm when cancelling a holiday? Might be worth mentioning also that the holiday is 10 weeks away.

Many Thanks.

tamiami

Ryanair flights are non refundable.

cakey87_2

Thanks for all the information, Pollycat that makes sense now so OTB have fronted the cost of flights so this will be owing on the balance if I cancelled. So would they not deduct the £150 deposit from what is left on the flights? I just cant understand it being so high...

richardw

Could you go with a friend/relative and they just book the same ryanair flights as you direct with ryanair?

cakey87_2

I think my mum is going to have a look into coming otherwise I have no other option really! I cant exactly avoid paying them so would have to just front the cancellation fees.

Thanks for all your advice.