Holiday booked and full balance Paid

Axle37

We booked a Florida holiday for May this year and had paid the full balance before the Coronavirus struck.  When things were uncertain the travel agent persuaded us to move our holiday to 2021.  At this point the flights to Florida had not been cancelled and I was persuaded it was a risk to wait and see if the holiday is cancelled.  We still want to go next year if we can but wondered if we are within our rights to ask for the balance back and just leave them with our deposits.  They are holding about £8000 of our money until next February when the balance would have been due to be paid.  

Alan_Bowen

It depends on the agreement, but very few are refunding the money. Very simply operators took a risk in allowing unlimited transfers to next year but equally you could have asked for a full refund. Prices for next year are much higher, so if they didn't put up the price and are taking the loss, I very much doubt they will agree to any refund. If you booked through a travel agency with a tour operator, the money will almost certainly no longer be in agents hands anyway

[Deleted User]

I would say no as well.    You won't miss it because you have already paid it out.  Some people pay in full on booking anyway.  The deposit scheme is to encourage people to book in first place.   If you ask for most of your money back now I think it will be classed as a cancellation and you will lose whatever the t's and c's dictate but probably have to pay a lot more to rebook for 2021 with anybody.

Axle37

To be honest he told me my only options were to transfer the holiday or hope that the flight was cancelled so we can claim on insurance.  No mention of them giving us back our money.  What will happen if they go bust or we decide to cancel anyway?  Thanks for your help so far

Westin

Sounds like what you were told was probably correct at that particular time.

If you booked a package holiday and have an ATOL certificate then should the tour operator go bust then you would get your money back. The CAA ATOL scheme protects you financially for such an eventuality.