TUI offers to assist schools hit by operator’s collapse
Schools ski operator SkiClass is looking to mop up bookings from failed tour operator Pinnacle Travel, which went into administration earlier this week.
SkiClass, which is part of TUI, estimates 100 or more schools will have been hit by the collapse of Pinnacle, which organised foreign trips – including ski holidays – for 5,500 pupils a year.
Rival operator Visions Holiday Group has already acquired some of Pinnacle's assets, including all of its forward bookings, which it has said it will honour, but SkiClass said that for those who want to cancel and re-book, it will make the process as easy as possible. Pinnacle held an ATOL and ABTA bond so customers should be entitled to refunds.
SkiClass pointed out that it is an experienced schools ski operator, which already offers holidays to the destinations covered by Pinnacle. Visions Holiday Group is an adult operator specialising in travel Africa and Greece.
Pinnacle's customers who want to go ahead with their holidays may have to pay again for their flights and claim a refund via the CAA.
SkiClass said: "By becoming an assignee with ABTA, we will guarantee that schools and pupils will still be able to travel to the ski resorts of their choice," said SkiClass director Andy Burns.
"Our aim will be to make the transition as seamless as possible to avoid any additional administrative burden on the schools concerned.
"For all the schools involved, we will strive to deliver the skiing holidays as close as possible to the original trips they booked with Pinnacle Travel."
SkiClass will set up a dedicated emergency helpline for Pinnacle customers, which will be published on its website www.skiclass.co.uk
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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