Hurricane Mellisa and its disruption

Frustratedtuimonteg1

I am getting frustrated with my tour operator and their lack of communication. Booked a holiday to jamaica last october and got caught in Hurricane melissa. The hotel closed its doors and the local airport was closed. There was no communication from local holiday company reps so holidaymakers were left stranded. The flights were all cancelled. I am trying to claim back the cost of return flights and subsistance for the extra week we were left in Jamaica. All flights were cancelled back to the uk and we had no support from the package holiday company. We have to return via USA as these were the only flights available, the extra costs were over £1500 for my family to return to UK. How can I get help with this claim and where to I go from here, small claim court, I am lost and dont know what to do next. Any help would be appreciated.

eskbanker

Who is the package provider, and what communication have you had with them so far?

Edit: does username imply TUI?

elsien

How long is it since you originally made the claim? And have you had any response to your claim at all?

Woodstok2000

Have you checked your travel insurance to see if youre covered? Might be an easier route to get your money back.

la531983

Something doesnt seem right here, didnt they put on flights to bring people back once the winds had subsided and there was a functioning airport?

NoodleDoodleMan

Is this not a holiday insurance claim scenario ?

Knowing the package holiday operator in question would be pertinent.

TELLIT01

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81866864#Comment_81866864

With a package holiday involved, the travel insurer is likely to say claim from the tour operator and the tour operator say to claim off insurance. Assuming this is TUI, they don't have the best name for customer service and compensation. Friends of ours travelled with 2 other couples, each paid seperately but on the same flight staying at the same hotel. They had a long delay on the way home. One couple got an immediate payout but the other two had to fight for month and even then were offered different amounts.

eskbanker

The package provider certainly has some responsibilities under the Package Travel Regulations, although not necessarily to cover all of OP's costs when it's unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, so it does seem likely that the insurer will need to step in to cover at least some, although they'll resist paying out for monies that should be recoverable elsewhere.

If the flight home was on TUI's airline then that also opens up the potential for a claim from them (separate from that against the package provider arm of the TUI empire) for the cost of the alternative flights, if the package provider doesn't stump up, but, as above, much will come down to exactly what was communicated and when.