Increased air fares

DullGreyGuy

misuel1955 said:

I have paid in full for a trip to New York next May. The cost of the flights have now significantly increased. Can the airline request I pay the difference even though I’ve already paid for a package holiday 

If you actually bought a package then no. 
If you bought flights and hotels separately then generally the answer would also be no. 

On the second point however, there are a small number of ropy overseas agents that advertise exceptionally low prices with a comment that prices may go up... this is because they dont actually book the flight at the time you pay them but instead they speculate that the price will drop and book it later if they do, if they dont then shortly before your flight they'll notify you of the price increase and ask if you want to pay the extra or have a refund. 

SuzeQStan

Tell you what @Pollycat - I’ll just go away thanks.

Pollycat

SuzeQStan said:

Tell you what @Pollycat - I’ll just go away thanks.

You have taken offence where none was intended (or expressed by me - imho).

I asked you questions to clarify your response.
It was clear that your initial response on this thread was misleading as this poster below asked questions as though you were the OP, by referencing 'package holiday'.

Grumpy_chap said:

SuzeQStan said:

we had a message from our flight provider
stating that the price we paid could
increase and I believe a cost increase range was stated possibly up to £200

Why did the flight provider contact you directly if this was a package holiday?
Was the package holiday purchase from the flight provider?

What is the reason for the possible increase or up to £200?
Is that up to £200 in total for the whole booking?
Or up to £200 per traveller?
Or up to £200 per flight leg?

How was the message received?

However, you do what suits you.

jimi_man

SuzeQStan said:

Tell you what @Pollycat - I’ll just go away thanks.

There is no need to get the hump. Your experience is useful, it’s just that a line saying ‘I’ve had a similar experience’ before relating the story would have helped

I had a similar issue when I booked my honeymoon back in 1993 to Thailand and Bali with a travel agent. (Hayes and Jarvis). Apparently there was a clause in it that said they could ask for more due to Fuel Surcharges or something. And they did, about six weeks before they demanded another £250 or so. They knew it was a honeymoon and so figured I’d find it tricky to cancel which was correct so I paid it. Left a nasty taste in my mouth and I’ve spent 30 years advising people never to use them. I won’t use travel agents any more apart from BA Holidays. 

Having said all that I’d be surprised if it still went on now. 

Alan_Bowen

The law on surcharges is quite clear. Firstly the booking conditions must specifically state they reserve the right to surcharge, many guarantee not to do so. Surcharges can only apply in respect of transportation costs, tax and fee changes such as increases in overseas departure taxes and currency changes. The maximum increase is 8% of the original price after which you can request a full refund and in respect of ABTA members only, they guarantee to absorb the first 2% of any increase. Check the conditions of your tour operator, many have fixed fares with airlines which will not change for a season even if the published fares rise, or indeed fall. 

DullGreyGuy

Alan_Bowen said:

The law on surcharges is quite clear.

If the seller is based in the UK... plenty of non-UK based travel agents these days

SuzeQStan

I believe my experience does relate in some way - package holiday or not - when booking Virgin Atlantic flights this last month there was a disclaimer you had to tick as read understood that cost of the flight could go up and additional levies applied. I was surprised it was unusual and I hadn’t seen that before. 

Caz3121

possibly related to section 5 of their conditions of carriage

"If any government imposed taxes, fees, charges or Government Scheme Costs are imposed or increased after you have made your booking, but before you have started your journey, we may require you to pay for any increase. If any of these items are abolished or reduced after you have made your booking, but before you have started your journey, you may claim a refund of such amount from us, less a reasonable service charge"

this should only apply to government surcharges as the same section also states
"If any surcharges, fees or charges (other than those imposed introduced by a government) are introduced, increased or decreased after you have made your booking but before you have started your journey, these will not be passed to you or refunded." 

Alan_Bowen

DullGreyGuy- the law is the same  throughout the EU, as it is based on an EU Directive dating from 2015

DullGreyGuy

Alan_Bowen said:

DullGreyGuy- the law is the same  throughout the EU, as it is based on an EU Directive dating from 2015

But not world wide. The dodgy flight booking site that was posted on here regularly a few years ago were a non-EU country.