The greatest advance in British Consumer Travel Law is undoubtedly The Package Travel Regulations 1992, implemented for consumer protection. Read More

Many people cannot afford the services of a lawyer.  Sometimes the facts dictate that their case benefits would be outweighed by the cost of legal representation. In those cases it may be appropriate to use the small claims process – before doing so, you should always obtain independent legal advices. The process of the small claims court is fully described on the Court Service website. Read More

The ABTA Code of Conduct was updated in January 2009. The Code is designed to import a standard level of professional behaviour that you can expect from your travel agent or tour operator, if they are members of ABTA. Read More

If you discover that you are unable to resolve the complaint directly with the tour operator, you have the option to present your case under the ABTA Arbitration scheme. Read More

In 2007 we examined the issue of Neurotoxins in aircraft and found a surprising lack of urgency into this pressing question – nothing has changed!  This article sets out the real effect of neurotoxins (also known as Aerotoxic or Sick Aircraft Syndrome) on pilots and passengers – in our view, the issue is and remains an International Scandal!  It also raises a serious point – if these neurotoxins are escaping into aircraft cabins and cockpits, then surely there is the same potential for those toxins to reach those on the ground who live near to airports?  If that is the case, should they not also be included into a study that has purpose and meaning?  The issue still has wide resonance today! Read More

Following a complaint received from a Holidaymaker, we investigated and reported in the May 2007 edition of Get’Away, the issue of the potential for Carbon Monoxide or Neurotoxins within Aircraft Cabins.  This condition is now commonly known as Aerotoxic or Sick Aircraft Syndrome.  This has become one of the most important developing travel issue this decade!  We have reported extensively on this issue, our latest report having beiong submitted to EASA in January 2010! Read More

Since 2005, the issue of Significant Change before departure, accounts for the second most popular of all holiday complaints received by HolidayTravelWatch (it is joint second with DIY/Dynamically Package Holiday Complaints – the top complaints we receive are holiday illness claims)!  Significant Changes occur usually when some aspect to the holiday is radically changed, for example, a change of hotel, overbooking of a hotel, a change of resort, closure of facilities, a change in a ship’s or tour’s itinerary, natural or man made disaster’s affecting a destination, outbreak’s of illness at a hotel, resort or on board a ship etc!  We have seen through Regulation 12 how a travel provider, when they become aware of a pre-departure ’Significant Change’ to your contract, must advise you of those changes, to give you the opportunity to cancel without penalty or to accept the changes with a rider to the contract!  However, Regulation 13 takes Consumer Rights further!  It obligates a travel provider to provide important options for you the travel Consumer!  In the May 2007 edition of ‘Get’Away’, we set out the consumer ‘benefit’ of Regulation 13 of the Package Travel Regulations and detail the rights that should be given to you before departure! Read More