SETTLED. school holiday dates changed after holiday booking

123sonny123

Hi guys

My wife and I have spent much time on this issue. Any help is very much appreciated. 

At the back end of 2023, I checked the dates for the school holidays on the Council's website before booking a 7-day holiday during the October (2024) school 1-week half-term. *This is the only time we can travel as my wife works in education* I booked the flights and separate accommodation for my wife and I. 

Unfortunately, the Council changed the dates for the school half-term, meaning we have lost out on the money paid for flights and also a bit of money on the accommodation. Please bear in mind the council puts the term-times up for several years ahead, and for them to change the holiday dates with less than a year to go is very unfortunate.

They have apologised for the short notice change, but we have loss out on just over £400   Money we cannot afford to lose. 

The airline (asking for a large change fee) and accommodation (charges 1 night stay) provider will not budge and our travel insurance doesn't cover something like this. 

CAB suggested I go through local council ombudsman, who we are waiting to hear back from. I get the feeling there is no hope for us. 

Regards

Sonny

BoGoF

What are you hoping for? The council to somehow re-imburse you? Never going to happen and is not a Consumer Rights issue.

Aylesbury_Duck

Surely this is a matter of employment contract?  What does your wife’s contract say about booking holiday, how it’s approved, etc?  If the employer (the school if it’s an academy and the council if not?) has breached that, then there may be options.

How important to her and the household finances is your wife’s job?

RefluentBeans

I’m confused about this - what are you seeking to remedy the situation? And is the issue that the term time has now moved, effectively moving her annual leave dates? Or is there a child involved in this too and you are also worried about truancy issues? 

How does your wife request holiday? I appreciate that for most people it will work very differently than those teaching - but does she request time off for approval from a line manager or is it just prescribed that her annual leave allowance will be in line with teaching needs and follow the half terms? 

As others have said, this isn’t a consumer rights issue, and I think this more employment law than anything else. But my gut feeling is to check what it says about holidays in the contract and see if it mentions anything about the needs of teaching (as I know businesses can get around holiday retractions by saying it’s in the need of the business etc, so I’d expect there to be something similar for a school). Also does the employer not confirm the half term at the start of the years? Or is this because it’s the following academic year? 

user1977

123sonny123 said:

Please bear in mind the council puts the term-times up for several years ahead, and for them to change the holiday dates with less than a year to go is very unfortunate.

Yes, "unfortunate" is probably the correct word here. Not "something which would oblige them to dish out compo to everyone if they change their mind about it".

The CAB suggested you complain to the council in what capacity? As others have said, if anything this sounds purely like an employee/employer issue for your wife.

CliveOfIndia

123sonny123 said:

our travel insurance doesn't cover something like this.

Have you checked your insurance policy carefully?  I only ask because this is precisely the kind of thing that you get insurance for - and why it's always strongly recommended to take out insurance right from the moment you book.  Having to "voluntarily" cancel the trip due to unforeseen circumstances is usually one of the main things that people want cover for.

user1977

CliveOfIndia said:

123sonny123 said:

our travel insurance doesn't cover something like this.

Have you checked your insurance policy carefully?  I only ask because this is precisely the kind of thing that you get insurance for - and why it's always strongly recommended to take out insurance right from the moment you book.  Having to "voluntarily" cancel the trip due to unforeseen circumstances is usually one of the main things that people want cover for.

I haven't heard of "employer shifting holiday dates" as being an insured risk.

Flugelhorn

I have seen school holiday dates change in the past - either that or I read the wrong year 

123sonny123

Thanks all. Yes, We always take out insurance as soon as we booked the holiday.  I've never known our council to shift the school holiday dates at such a short notice (under 11 months in this case). Surely, they know that people book and plan the next 10-12 months. From your responses I get the feeling I am out of touch and barking up the wrong tree. I will ask the insurer again to have a look. Thanks so much for your prompt replies. 

Pollycat

Surely other people will also have been affected by this change?

Many parents take their children on holiday during half term, and they tend to book their holidays far in advance to get free child places.
How are they dealing with this change?

user1977

123sonny123 said:

I will ask the insurer again to have a look.

Wouldn't it be simpler (and more reliable) for you to read your policy?

Had your wife actually taken any steps to confirm the holiday dates with the school and explain that she was relying on them for the purposes of holiday booking?