another flight question

[Netty]

Hi
as you may know i am trying to book a 3 week flydrive deal for next august.
some companies and 1 travel agent has told me that the price i have been quoted, will probably rise when the oil price increases, and the 11 month window for flights come into affect.
so if i book now, with another teletext agent , for the price ive been quoted flying with virgin. will the teletext agent be within rights to increase my quote., after i have booked and paid my deposit on the virgin flight and the car.
hope someone can help
thanks!

 

[kristieuk]

The simple answer is no - if you book at a fixed price, with no clauses that give the agent the right to increase the price at any time, you have a contract that can't be varied unless both parties agree to it.

Nothing in life is simple though - they may put fuel surcharge clauses into contract, or a clause that gives them the right to increase prices once the flights are confirmed. Read the small print carefully! One good point is that if they try to increase the price at any time, you should have the right to cancel without any penalty - again, check the small print!

 

[Netty]

thanks christie
so if i pay the deposit of 150 each + £25 per week for the car and then i get the confirmation, saying they can put up the price for fuel surcharge, am i then entitled if i cancel for the full refund on flights and car,.do they have to on the confirmation put the actual price of the surcharge on or can they just say it may be between a certain amount.
and what if the charges dont go on until september + and then i'm informed will i lose the deposit.

 

[kristieuk]

Well it's hard to say what the travel company will try to do, but my best guess is that once you have paid the depositand your booking has been accepted and confirmed, they will send out your booking details as well as the 'small print' - and they will probably reserve the right to increase the price of flights once they have been released (it's my understanding that they will work on the flight cost estimate given to them by Virgin, so in fairness to the travel agents, it is something a little out of their control).

If any of the terms were varied - particularly a significant increase in cost - they should give you the right to cancel and get a full refund of any monies paid, including a deposit (I also believe there is some provision that the agent must absorb the first 2% of any increase, but I would have to check this). I also don't think that they can increase the cost less than 30 days before departure.

This year we booked Delta flights through airline network, paid a deposit, and then a couple of weeks later we were told that we had to pay in full within 14 days as Delta were imposing a fuel surcharge at that time (£38 I believe), which we could avoid if we paid in full before it was imposed.

I would just ask the travel agent what the conditions of booking are, and whether you are entitled to cancel in the event of price increases when the flights are released. It's always better to establish your rights before you need to test them!

Good luck!

 

[Cochise]

Sorry to question this but what about Fuel Supplements. I was advised by a travel agent that the airline do have the right to increase a supplement up to the point that you pay off the full balance.

 

[kristieuk]

I believe that the rules are different for flight only bookings. The information I was referring to applies to package holidays only (eg fly drives etc, that include a flight, accommodation etc) - you get more rights in this situation.

I am not holding myself out to be an expert on holiday rights - touch wood, I have never had a situation where I have had to look in to it in any detail, and I would always say to check the small print.

 

[Netty]

thanks for your help Kristie,i will get back on to the company.

 

[Cochise]

We are booked with Skydeals and they told me that even though we had booked a flydrivewith them plus hotel, the flight with US air was a contract solely between us and US Air and therefore subject to the same rules as a flight only. I may be wrong but it is certainly a "be aware"