Hong Kong agency shuts down stranding hundreds of customers
Hundreds of travellers have been stranded in Hong Kong after the abrupt closure of Free Spirit Travel.
It closed down on Wednesday leaving an estimated 460 travellers out of pocket for a combined HK$1.2 million (US$153,000.)
The agency specialises in travel between Hong Kong and Indonesia and is especially popular with migrant domestic maids.
It came at the worst possible time with the Idul Fitri holidays just days away.
The holidays see millions of Indonesians travel home at this time.
The Unfair Trade Practice Investigation Group is investigating the agency.
If it is found to have pocketed money from customers with no intention of providing tickets, the company’s owners could be liable for a HK$500,000 fine and a jail term of up to five years.
Some affected customers told investigators they were issued with tickets but these turned out to be invalid.
The Travel Industry Council has suspended Free Spirit Travel’s license.
The council’s executive director, Alice Chan Cheung Lok-yee said the affected customers will have to buy new tickets as the travel industry compensation fund does not cover flight only bookings – only travel packages.
"The rules were reviewed as to whether payments should be extended to air tickets, but it was too complicated to implement and was not considered eventually," she said.
Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific has reached out and says there are special offers for flights to Jakarta and Surabaya for domestic helpers.
"We understand the frustration and concerns of affected passengers and we stand ready to assist as much as we can."
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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