Villa Plus worries

k3caz

So, Villa Plus have just changed our Flight departure Airport,(Cardiff to Bristol) and Carrier from TUI to Ryanair!!!. they have told me its a significant change, and on their T&C it states im eligible for a refund, however they are saying that is not an option in this case, as they can provide the villa and flights... Now i can understand a single change but not 2 of them. But they are saying we either accept or lose it all..

missile

I would not be happy. However you should check their T&Cs. Where are you going, when did you book and when are you due to fly?

k3caz

Lanzarote booked in Aug 2019, thursday this week. T & C states any significant change 4 options on being refund

missile

I would suggest a change to departure airport is a significant change

bagand96

From the VillaPlus booking T&Cs https://www.villaplus.com/booking-conditions

24. Changes and cancellation by us

Because we begin planning the arrangements, we offer many months in advance, we must reserve the right to make changes to and correct errors in holiday details both before and after bookings have been confirmed. We must also reserve the right to cancel confirmed bookings.

Changes: If we make an insignificant change to your holiday, we will make reasonable efforts to inform you as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before your departure but we will have no liability to you. Examples of insignificant changes include alteration of your outward/return flight by less than 12 hours, changes to aircraft type, change of accommodation to another of the same or higher standard, changes of carriers.

Most changes are insignificant but occasionally, we may have to make a "significant change". Examples of "significant changes" include the following when made before departure;

(a) a change of accommodation area for the whole or a major part of your holiday, a change of accommodation to that of a lower classification for the whole or a significant part of your time away;
(b) A change of accommodation to that of a lower standard or classification for the whole or a significant part of your time away
(c) A change of outward departure time or overall length of your arrangements by more than 12 hours
(d) a change of UK departure airport except between:

• The London airports: Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, London City and Southend
• The South Coast airports: Southampton, Bournemouth and Exeter
• The South Western airports: Cardiff and Bristol
• The Midlands airports: Birmingham, East Midlands and Doncaster Sheffield
• The Northern airports: Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds Bradford
• The North eastern airports: Newcastle and Teesside
• The Scottish airports: Edinburgh, Glasgow, Prestwick and Aberdeen

Change of airline is a minor change. Change of airport is not significant when it’s within those regional groups (of which Cardiff and Bristol are one)

Think you may be stuck here, unless the T&Cs you booked under were different, and you have proof of that. 

gettingtheresometime

I live in South Wales & I'd travel from Bristol over Cardiff any day of the week.

The only time hubby tried to fly into Cardiff (as opposed to Bristol) he ended up in Heathrow.

missile

Seems Villa Plus are acting within their T&Cs. 
It could have been worse? "We must also reserve the right to cancel confirmed bookings.  "
I have made a note to avoid them in future.

k3caz

Thanks all, understand about the change of location. however the flight is now with Ryan Air.  Not with TUI. have flown once with them never again, even pay more money to avoid them. Surely thats a significant change, however nothing is visible on their t&c's about carrier change

Mrsn

k3caz said:

Thanks all, understand about the change of location. however the flight is now with Ryan Air.  Not with TUI. have flown once with them never again, even pay more money to avoid them. Surely thats a significant change, however nothing is visible on their t&c's about carrier change

In the bit that Bagand96 quoted under the bit that says changes it’s literally the last few words of the paragraph saying that carriers aren’t a significant change.

[Deleted User]

k3caz said:

Thanks all, understand about the change of location. however the flight is now with Ryan Air.  Not with TUI. have flown once with them never again, even pay more money to avoid them. 

Funny that because I have always found Ryan Air planes to be o.k. for comfort and leg room.   I refused to travel with Thompsons at one point because it was so cramped and I got claustrophobic.  Are TUI using same planes?    They have a dreadful name but, under normal circumstances, for the prices paid I have found them pretty good. 

bagand96

k3caz said:

Thanks all, understand about the change of location. however the flight is now with Ryan Air.  Not with TUI. have flown once with them never again, even pay more money to avoid them. Surely thats a significant change, however nothing is visible on their t&c's about carrier change

A change of airline, aircraft type etc has always been a minor change in package holidays. It’s much better these days as the industry has shifted away from charter airlines to scheduled/low cost airlines... but back in the 80s and 90s the brochures would be published a year in advance with a flight schedule, but that could be a “best guess” as contracts and plans could change many times before the season started. 

Perhaps get confirmation from VillaPlus that the Ryanair booking is like for like with the TUI one (checked baggage etc). Familiarise yourself with the Ryanair requirements, checking in online, luggage allowance, hand baggage allowance etc and you should be fine.