Operators divided over surcharges
Operators are divided over whether clients should be hit with surcharges after they've paid for their holiday.
Tui subsidiaries Exodus and SkiBound have been criticised for adding surcharges on adventure holidays and kids’ ski holidays.
The extra charges, in Exodus’ case an extra £200 on a holiday to New Zealand worth £5,500, were blamed on exchange rates and fuel price fluctuations reported the Independent.
But adventure specialist Explore is among those who have pledged not to pass on surcharges and has changed booking patterns in order to honour this.
Ashley Toft, managing director of Explore, said: “Airlines do not confirm their route schedules and prices until 11 months before departure, leaving trips sold before this time open to amendment.
“We have thus taken a decision to minimise the number of holidays sold prior to this cut-off point, with over 95% of tours on sale departing within ten and a half months.
“This allows us to offer itineraries and flights that we are confident won’t change and, if there is a price increase, we have vowed to absorb it.”
There are fears more operators may charge extra as the economic climate forces them to claim back costs.
Despite ABTA saying that surcharges are used very rarely and ‘as a last resort’, operators are entitled to charge extra if they comply with the criteria on the package travel regulations.
Operators must prove the increase is beyond their control and:
• Highlight that surcharges may apply in the booking conditions
• Absorb 2% of the value of the increase
• Offer a refund if the surcharge is more than 10%
• Not surcharge less than 30 days prior to departure
An ABTA spokesman said: “As a rule of thumb, tour operators only do it as a last resort. There are a lot of safeguards.
“If you look at the number of companies charging surcharges, it’s a pretty small percentage.”
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By Diane Evans
Diane
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