Advice please p&o cruises / Maleth aro

Dave6018

Firstly newbie here so go easy on me.

I booked a cruises to go to the Caribbean next march but p@o have changed what I originally booked in regards to the flight. 

So booked holiday over the phone.

One of condtions of me booking was the availability of premium economy seating which was available at an extra cost, so I booked the cruise with premium economy seating, everything was great.

Received a email few weeks ago stating they have changed to an airline called maleth aero, which I have never heard of but for the 8-10 hour flight firstly their is no premium economy seating and no inflight entertainment.

So if I cancel I loose my deposit of £570, I just get quoted terms and condtions from p&o or I have to book an equivalent holiday with a similar price which means I have to basically book a suite on a european crisis.

I just feel i have been mislead, if I was told that premium economy seats  were not available and there would of be no inflight entertainment at point of sale I would of never have booked the holiday. How can a company promise you somethong take you deposit and then say we are changing it and nothing you can do about it!!  

So far issued section 75 via credit card but not very hopeful other option I was considering was the small claims court but I'm terrified of losing that and it costing me 1000s. 

So I'm hoping for some help and advice. 

Thank you in advance 

 

bagand96

This has received some coverage in the travel press, you're not the only one disgruntled.  You will need to look carefully at the Terms & Conditions of your P&O booking.  They almost certainly will be allowed to change flight details/aircraft/operator and the T&C's will state this.

In regards to the Premium Economy upgrade, because this was a paid added extra I again expect they will have a clause that in the event an upgrade is not available they reserve the right to cancel it and refund the cost of that upgrade.  But that may not entitle you to withdraw from the contract.

I guess you've been offered the £75 on board credit gesture as detailed here P&O Cruises apologises to trade over flight charter issues | Travel Weekly  As I said you're not the only one disgruntled, many agents who sell P&O cruises are also unhappy, but until now P&O are sticking rigidly to their T&Cs.

la531983

Availability of planes changes all the time, you havent been "misled" in any way.

Bicycleman22

You have been misled because this is a change in airline that was probably thought of months ago. If the premium economy request is in writing as a condition of booking you have something to go on. If not it sounds like it will be difficult to receive a refund.

la531983

Bicycleman22 said:

You have been misled because this is a change in airline that was probably thought of months ago.

And your evidence of this is where?

The Op doesnt actually tell us when the cruise was booked, it could have been 12 months ago, airline availability changes all of the time.