Jet2 lowered Star rating

SunriseWakeyWakey

We booked our Jet2 all inclusive holiday in Aug 23, for July 24. I had an email today to say that the hotel we are staying in, Jet2 have decided the star rating would be more suited as a 3* plus as opposed to a 5*. Jet2 have said we can change our hotel with no admin fee, but would have to pay any difference in price. When I phoned Jet2 they explained that the lowered rating was because of hotels in the area. I just wondered if anyone had been in a similar situation? With 66 days to go until our holiday to change hotel there is a huge cost implication. The choice is very limited, and expensive. Had this happened earlier we may have had more of a choice to change.

eskbanker

Have any of the actual features of the hotel changed since you booked?  If there's an official star rating, as opposed to the one chosen by Jet2, has that changed?  Can you see what's said in independent reviews (Trip Advisor, etc), and the hotel's own website, plus other tour operators' pages (if applicable)?

You may have a case for either a partial refund or an alternative 5* hotel under the Package Travel Regulations, but worth spending some time researching it in order to present a compelling argument....

Loopy2880

Is it a Turkish hotel? 

TELLIT01

Depending on where the hotel is, it may only have recently reopened for the summer season.  If that is the case Jet2 won't have had any opportunity to inspect it and the surrounding area.  At least you have been informed of Jet2's opinion.

bagand96

Jet2holidays Terms & Conditions | Jet2holidays state:

8. If we change your holiday

It is unlikely that we will have to make any changes to your booking, but we do plan the arrangements many months in advance. Occasionally, we may have to make changes and we reserve the right to do so at any time. We will contact you by email and/or phone to discuss. Please check your email account regularly for emails from us.  

Insignificant changes: Sometimes facilities described in our brochure/website may be withdrawn for reasons beyond our control. Where possible, we will tell you about the withdrawal of any facility as soon as possible. Insignificant changes include alteration of your outward/return flights by less than 12 hours, an additional airport stop en-route to your final destination, changes to aircraft type, change of accommodation to another of the same standard, change of embarkation/disembarkation point to another in the same city or region and changes of carriers. No compensation is payable for insignificant changes to your holiday. 

Significant changes: If we are constrained by circumstances beyond our control to alter significantly any of the main characteristics of the travel services that make up your package you will have the rights set out below. Examples of a significant change are: change of your UK departure airport to one in an area significantly more inconvenient to you; complete change of destination/resort; a change of more than 12 hours to the time you leave the UK or your destination; if we downgrade your accommodation by one full star rating (where applicable) or where we miss out the main advertised place or event on your itinerary. If we have to make a significant change to your holiday, we will inform you or your travel agent as soon as reasonably possible (provided there if there is time before your departure.) You will have the choice of either accepting the change of arrangements, accepting an offer of alternative travel arrangements of comparable standard from us if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value), or cancelling your booked holiday and receiving a full refund of all monies paid for the holiday, except for any amendment fees. We will tell you the procedure for making your choice at the time. We will pay compensation as detailed in clause 10 below for all significant changes except where the majora significant change is due to “unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances”. 

Have Jet2holidays offered what their T&Cs say?  Accept the change, or accept an offer of alternative arrangements of comparable standard, or have a full refund.

I note they say if the offered alternative is lower value they'll offer a refund of the difference, they don't state anything about if it's more expensive and being asked to pay more.  You could ask them for an alternative 5* but in practice that doesn't mean you're going to get free choice, all hotels are priced differently.

Have you looked at recent reviews of the hotel?  Or maybe Tripadvisor forums?  Tour Operator ratings are not official, and often don't correspond to official star ratings (which can vary massively by country anyway).  It could well be that the facilities and everything are all the same as when you booked, and people are still having great holidays there.

twopenny

Does the star rating matter to you - or is it that the hotel suits?

Usually it's about the meals and facilities inside or the location that people choose for.

Look at the 3blob reviews on TA, they will have the pros and cons and most likely to be genuine and useful.

You can also search the reviews for items important for you by the search box.

Westin

Just adding to the other responses and valid points made, I have not before come across such a significant downgrade of tour operator rating (5* to 3+*). Can you tell us the name of the hotel?