'Non-refundable' rooms refund entitlement?

kuepper

I've been looking to book a flight + hotel as a package with kayak to get atol protection and unexpectedly discovered rooms that are 'non-refundable' are cheaper than ones you can cancel for free up to the day before. So I was thinking it wasn't worth the risk of paying the lower price. Then in todays i newspaper if you read the first Q,in the link below  it seems you are entitled to a refund for 'non-refundable' rooms if a flight is cancelled, which doesn't seem right somehow but I don't want to waste money when there's no need to!

https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/travel/coronavirus-uk-travel-summer-holiday-questions-answered-cancelled-trips-fco-advice-562645

eskbanker

If flight and hotel are bought together as a package, with an ATOL certificate confirming this status, then yes, the Package Travel Regulations impose full refund obligations on the package organiser if any of the components aren't delivered.  Given Kayak's resultant risk exposure, will they definitely let you include a non-refundable room in the package?

kuepper

eskbanker said:

If flight and hotel are bought together as a package, with an ATOL certificate confirming this status, then yes, the Package Travel Regulations impose full refund obligations on the package organiser if any of the components aren't delivered.  Given Kayak's resultant risk exposure, will they definitely let you include a non-refundable room in the package?

yes I can choose either option. You have to pay opodo and kayak/booking.com separately as 2 separate windows open when you choose the package but before that it states the package is atol protected

eskbanker

kuepper said:

eskbanker said:

If flight and hotel are bought together as a package, with an ATOL certificate confirming this status, then yes, the Package Travel Regulations impose full refund obligations on the package organiser if any of the components aren't delivered.  Given Kayak's resultant risk exposure, will they definitely let you include a non-refundable room in the package?

yes I can choose either option. You have to pay opodo and kayak/booking.com separately as 2 separate windows open when you choose the package but before that it states the package is atol protected

Are you sure that one provider (Kayak?) will definitely be issuing you with an ATOL certificate (with full package status rather than the looser 'linked travel arrangement') even though you're essentially making separate bookings with two other providers?

[Deleted User]

I don't think I would chance booking a non refundable room ever again t.b.h.  

Mrsn

I think Tedber is on the right track to be honest, I wouldn’t right now want to limit options if there were to be problems down the line. 

Eskbanker makes a good point that it might not be the “package” you think it is, I would read very very carefully before proceeding.

mattyprice4004

It all depends how the package is put together.
If the hotel and flights are booked separately, it’s no one’s problem but your own if you can’t get there and you’ll lose the money.