What if my tour operator makes changes to my package before I travel?

A travel company should not make significant changes to the ‘main characteristics’ of your package unless it is for reasons beyond their control e.g. hurricanes, ash clouds, civil unrest, coronavirus etc etc.

A significant change might be

• A change of hotel
• A change of date
• A change of resort
• Missing out a cruise destination
• An increase in price of more than 8%

If such a change is made then your travel company must tell you, without undue delay, the details of the change and any impact on the price and inform you if they are prepared to offer you a substitute package of equivalent or higher quality.

You must be given a reasonable time within which to reply.

You then have a choice

• You can accept the changes, or
• You can terminate the contract
• You can take the substitute package

If the changes, or the substitute package, are of lower quality you are entitled to an appropriate price reduction.

If you choose to terminate the contract your travel company must refund all the payments you have made within 14 days.

If you do not reply within the specified time your travel company must contact you again and if you still do not reply they may terminate the contract and refund all your payments within 14 days.

Apart from the refund you are not entitled to further compensation because the changes were caused by reasons beyond the control of your travel company.

However if they cancelled the package for reasons within their control you would be entitled to compensation.

Even if the change is insignificant your travel company can only make the change if the contract allows it and compensation would still be payable if it was for reasons within their control.