Please Help, Flight Times Changed

Jones811

Good Afternoon Everyone,

I have approached this section for some advise regarding my family's including myself situation, if you have experienced such complication, all help would be greatly appreciated by one and all.

Myself and 3 others ( aged between 40 and 70 ) are due to fly out to Portugal on 24/09/2020 and to return on 08/10/2020 , we decided to hire a Villa this year so, chose Villa Plus as our main supplier as a package Holiday, as the FCO is now allowing travel , we were due to fly out at 07:10am on the 24th and on return fly out at 10am in the morning. yesterday we received a email from Villa Plus to update our passport numbers and book the seats with the airline provider, Ryanair , we did as requested ( having to pay an extra cost of £92 to sit together ) however, I was perfectly fine on this, what has somewhat upset me, based on confirmation  once payment was made, the flight times had moved ??? Outbound to Faro  now moved from 07:10am to 15:50pm and return to west midlands on the 08/10/2020 from 09:25am to 18:25pm ???

As we have to leave the villa at 10am on the last day, this calculates to me that we have completely lost a full day due to the changes in these flight times.....We had NO notification from Villa Plus regarding these changes , only the following reply due to me posting a review on trust pilot. and I quote.....

"Given the widespread travel disruption, we are confirming arrangements for every holiday and this takes time. In some cases, there may be adjustments to your booking but please be assured we will be in touch to confirm details. We are working on holidays in departure date order and we understand your concerns but bear with us please as we work towards your travel date.The most up to date information can be found on our website Coronavirus Update page We thank you for your continued patience. ^AH-- "

After checking Sky Scanner , the upsetting part is that JET 2 are flying out to Faro on the exact date at our EXACT original timings of 07:40am in the morning and the return at 11am in the morning ……..  however, Villa Plus saw fit just to attach us on a much later flight ……….???  I believe , contract should of been made to us to request if we were happy to pay the extra would we approve the change of Airline , as this would of been more than acceptable...….. However, in true Villa Plus fashion ( based on the shocking and awful reviews I have seen on trust pilot ) they have simply gone with " That or Nothing "

My question is, what are our options regarding this ?  we would much prefer early flights,  we did not want the elderly of the family having to hall clumps of luggage around on the last day hence the original times we for early flights , I really do apologise regarding the lengthy description, but I believe a full story will provide as much support to provide more accurate answers.  I thank everyone each and all in advance for any help and support possible. Thank you , and stay safe everyone.

bradders1983

The answer will lie in the terms and conditions of your booking, there will be a section on flight changes.

They clearly decide to use Ryanair as first choice, not much you can do about that. 

To be honest having to be out of a villa at 10pm for a flight at 6pm isnt too much of a hardship, i recall when I was a kid having to leave accommodation in Greece at noon for flights leaving near midnight.

bagand96

Most package holidays T&C's will have a clause saying flight times are provisional and subject to change.  They consider a flight time change of up to 12 hours as a minor change.  A quick glance at VillaPlus T&Cs and I see they are in line with the industry, time change is less than 12 hours, so you have no rights to anything I'm afraid.

Thrugelmir

Unfortunately with hundred of thousands of people travelling throughout the summer. Simply not possible to micro manage every individual client booking in these difficult and unusual times.  Expectations need to be kept at a realistic level. Unless one is prepared to pay the price for a concierge service. 

silvercar

Unfortunately, that is the downside of booking a package. Had you booked to flights yourself, you would be entitled to a refund and could have booked with another airline, though the price may have changed.

bradders1983

Leave the villa at 10, wander to a nice cafe with the cases for a long leisurly lunch, and then get the taxi to the airport. Not the end of the world.

smallblueplanet

To piggyback onto this thread with a similar question as I'm thinking of booking a VillaPlus package. Can they change the departure airport?

bradders1983

smallblueplanet said:

To piggyback onto this thread with a similar question as I'm thinking of booking a VillaPlus package. Can they change the departure airport?

Will be in their terms. A lot of operators group airports and specific this in their terms. For example a change between London airports wouldnt be classed as a significant change, nor a change from Manchester to Liverpool, but one from Newcastle to Exeter would be.

Caz3121

smallblueplanet said:

Can they change the departure airport?

covered in section 24(d) here  https://www.villaplus.com/booking-conditions

smallblueplanet

Caz3121 said:

smallblueplanet said:

Can they change the departure airport?

covered in section 24(d) here  https://www.villaplus.com/booking-conditions

Thanks, I did look at them (as I'm currently searching their website for a holiday).
But I have to admit to not quite knowing what they mean - it didn't even cross my mind that they could change flight times (bit naive of me) as I normally book separate flights/accommodation/car-hire myself.
Anyway I'd normally ring them and ask for clarification - but that's not possible. So I was looking for other travel info on Portugal and saw this thread and though I'd ask. 
@bradders1983, I wondered about London as I didn't see it mentioned and so the above confusion set in. Did I miss it or is it not considered a 'major' change?

bradders1983

smallblueplanet said:

Caz3121 said:

smallblueplanet said:

Can they change the departure airport?

covered in section 24(d) here  https://www.villaplus.com/booking-conditions

Thanks, I did look at them (as I'm currently searching their website for a holiday).
But I have to admit to not quite knowing what they mean - it didn't even cross my mind that they could change flight times (bit naive of me) as I normally book separate flights/accommodation/car-hire myself.
Anyway I'd normally ring them and ask for clarification - but that's not possible. So I was looking for other travel info on Portugal and saw this thread and though I'd ask. 
@bradders1983, I wondered about London as I didn't see it mentioned and so the above confusion set in. Did I miss it or is it not considered a 'major' change?

Its on the link provided above....


Examples of "significant changes" include the following when made before departure;

...

d) a change of UK departure airport except between:

• The London airports: Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Stansted, London City and Southend