Help! Holiday Cancelled by Operator

littlemissy29

Hi I hope someone can advise, I am posting for a friend of mine.

She was due to go on holiday next Friday with a singles tour operator, they emailed her today to say that they have had to cancel her holiday due to there not being enough people going.



What are her rights? I have done a quick bit of searching but to me it doesn't seem clear. They have offered her a holiday to Europe (she was supposed to be going to Mexico) but understandably she doesn't want to go to Europe, she wanted long haul. Could she find the same holiday elsewhere and ask them to pay for it? At the moment they are refusing compensation.


Thanks

Caz3121

Had they booked her a seat on a flight?

littlemissy29

She said no, she was supposed to get the paperwork ten days before travel (flight was actually next Thursday - originally I put Friday in post) so would have received it about now

ttoli

She will be offered an alternative or a full refund, You need to check thier terms and conditions of booking

littlemissy29

She has been offered an alternative but to Europe or a refund. We were just wondering if she would be due any compensation seeing as she was 10 days away from going? At the moment she is going to take the refund as she doesn't want to go to Europe - the T&Cs state the following:-


Cancellation may be necessary in exceptional circumstances and Solitair reserves the right in its absolute discretion to cancel your holiday. If this occurs you will be offered an alternative holiday of comparable standard (if available) together with a refund of any price difference or a full and prompt refund of all monies you have paid, except for any amendment charges. In no case except for circumstances beyond our control or where you fail to make payment in whole or in part will your holiday be cancelled within 10 weeks of departure. Circumstances beyond our control include but are not limited to war, threat of war, riot, civil strike, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire or adverse weather conditions. If cancellation or curtailment of your holiday occurs as a result of circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even with all due care, Solitair will not pay any compensation, nor be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by you as a result.


I wouldn't say offering her a trip to Europe was comparable? Also it states that we will not cancel your holiday within 10 weeks of departure except beyond their control - obviously if they didn't have enough people as a group (singles holiday company) this would be deemed beyond their control but surely they can't just cancel a holiday 10 days before departure?



Clearly I don't know enough about this so just wondering if she would have a case for compensation?

Westin

I don’t think cancelling due to lack of numbers for a tour so close to departure is acceptable.

I would re looked at the T&C’s regarding minimum numbers for holidays.

pennylane99

MINIMUM NUMBERS

Each of our tours is based on a minimum number and Solitair Holidays reserve the right to cancel a tour if such numbers are not reached. You will then have the choice of booking an alternative tour with us, changing your departure date at the appropriate additional cost or reduction depending on the cost of the tour excluding any amendment charges paid. In the unlikely event that your tour is cancelled, A - accept the change and the contract will be varied to incorporate the change, B - take a alternative tour subject to availability. If the alternative tour is of lower or higher price than that originally confirmed, the difference will have to be paid to us or be refunded to you, C -withdraw from the booking completely in which case Solitair will make a full refund of all monies paid by you. If a tour has to be cancelled due to insufficient numbers Solitair will not pay any compensation nor be responsible for any cost or expenses incurred by you as a result.

koalakoala

That's shocking cancelling at such short notice, and getting away without paying compensation.
One to be avoided

koalakoala

On doing a very quick search, loads of poor reviews

McKneff

You are entitled to a full refund.
I would also be asking them to refund the cost of your holiday insurance.

Westin

koalakoala wrote: »

That's shocking cancelling at such short notice, and getting away without paying compensation.
One to be avoided

Agreed. Poor show.