Hoteliers wrongly charging XL customers in resort
The CAA has issued another warning to customers of failed XL Leisure Group after reports that hoteliers have been wrongly charging them for their accommodation at the end of their holiday.
It is urging holidaymakers in resort not to pay hotels direct but to contact the holiday representatives of Thomson, First Choice, Thomas Cook or Virgin Holidays.
It has also assured hoteliers who are concerned they will not be paid that bills from the time of XL’s collapse will be settled in full by ATOL.
So far, 158 flights have been arranged to carry 37,150 passengers back to the UK from a total of 38 destinations.
ATOL-protected customers of the failed XL Leisure Group tour operators who are still abroad are reminded that their holidays are financially protected from the moment the company went into administration on September 12.
But passengers who booked directly with XL Airways or the XL subsidiary, Medlife, which sold only accommodation, are not covered by ATOL.
Richard Jackson, CAA director of consumer protection, said: “ATOL offers complete financial protection covering both flights and accommodation.
“If you are covered then you should not have to pay for anything that was covered under your original package. The CAA and tour operators are contacting hoteliersto remind them that ATOL will be picking up the bills from the point of XL’s collapse.â€
By Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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