Cancelled flights and alternatives

SYEVEisFUBAR

Hi guys,

I have a package holiday booked through lastminute.com to Bucharest (flight and hotel) in November of this year.

I received an email on Sunday the 26th of May telling me that the original flight was cancelled and it said I needed to let them know by the 2nd of June if I wanted to accept the alternative flight and if I didn't let them know by then, they would accept it on my behalf.

The alternative flight means I basically lose a whole day of my 4 day holiday.

My question is 2 part, firstly is there an official time limit to accept the alternative flight or is this lastminute.com's policy?

Secondly, I was on holiday when the email was sent and didn't receive it until I got home which was well after the 'deadline' for accepting/declining the flight.

I would have cancelled the holiday and requested a refund but unfortunately didn't get the chance.  Now if I try and cancel lastminute.com say it's me who is cancelling and are offering me a pathetic amount for a refund if I do so.

Can you please help.

Westin

Personally I don’t think that is unreasonable.  You had a week to respond.  They can’t leave things open ended.

Hoenir

With available seats on alternative flights at a premium. A week is certainly reasonable time frame for a decision to be made. With accessibility of email through mobile devices. Not as if people are uncontactable these days. . 

Brie

Hoenir said:

With available seats on alternative flights at a premium. A week is certainly reasonable time frame for a decision to be made. With accessibility of email through mobile devices. Not as if people are uncontactable these days. . 

big assumption.  there's lots of places one might go to where there is no wifi available or where it is too expensive to use.  I've been places that wanted to charge me up to £10 a day and on that basis I'm happy to be out of contact.

Westin

^ rare though….

eskbanker

SYEVEisFUBAR said:

The alternative flight means I basically lose a whole day of my 4 day holiday.

My question is 2 part, firstly is there an official time limit to accept the alternative flight or is this lastminute.com's policy?

The regulations require that the traveller is given a reasonable period of time within which to decide, so it'll come down to interpretation of that term - however, if the holiday now involves three nights instead of four then you should be due a corresponding price reduction....