In this latest edition we examine the effect of the fall of corporate responsibility in holiday contracts.  We suggest that new criminal offiences be created within the new Package Travel Regulations/Directive of failing to report or respond to a Bio-Hazard incident and where holidaymakers are exposed to sickness, for companies to be made responsible under a new offence of a Bio-Crime.  We also look at the continuing issue of Sick Aircraft Syndrome and the inspiration of Ms Downs who fought the UK Government on the issue of pesticides.  We look at EU Directive 2111/2005 and ask how this could be applied to aircraft fume incidents and enquiries.  Our guest article comes from Stephanie Trotter who heads Co Gas Safety.  She charts the issue of Carbon Monoxide poisoning and questions the impotency of action for the benefit of the consumer and citizen.  Our Case Study examines the appalling experience of one couple and how their substantial rights under the Package Travel Regulations where trampled upon.  Our final article provides a brief commentary on your right to have information provided to you on time whenever you book a Package Holiday. Read More

The threat to The Package Travel Regulations still remains.  The EU Commission have initially reported that they see a case for a renewal of the Directive, but because of forthcoming EU budgetary and parliamentary elections, such proposals have to remain on ‘ice’.  That means that the earliest we are likely to witness any draft documentation is likely to be from mid 2009 onwards.  In the meantime, as our lead article alludes, there appears to be a collapse in consumer confidence in travel companies.  This shortfall in confidence is not wrought from the current financial crisis, but from the complete failure to recognise and provide the consumer with access to the rights contained within the Package Travel Regulations.  Read More

Holiday TravelWatch Clinic – Case Study (Significant Change Rights – Pre & Post Departure): Read More

We often hear from holidaymakers who do not receive their holiday information in time for their holiday.  Regulation 8 of The Package Travel Regulations creates the obligation that information must be provided in good time.  Before the journey starts, information must be provided to the holidaymaker in writing or ‘in some other appropriate form’.  That information includes, times of transport, stops, details of accommodation on transport.  The names, addresses and telephone numbers of the local representative or agency where there is no rep—if neither exist, the contact details of the tour operator.  There are additional details that must be provided where the holidaymaker is under 16 years of age.  Where an insurance policy has been taken out, information on that policy.  The Regulation goes onto state that where the information is not supplied, the tour operator shall be guilty of a criminal offence, which on either summary conviction or conviction on indictment they can be subjected to a fine. Read More

Since 2005, HolidayTravelWatch has provided comment on the ever increasing threat to The Package Travel Regulations. This situation has developed partly through the changing style of purchasing holidays, but principally from the Court of Appeal decision as to what they considered constituted a ‘package’. Read More

Since 2005, HolidayTravelWatch has provided comment on the ever increasing threat to The Package Travel Regulations. This situation has developed partly through the changing style of purchasing holidays, but principally from the Court of Appeal decision as to what they considered constituted a ‘package’. Read More

Since 2005, HolidayTravelWatch has provided comment on the ever increasing threat to The Package Travel Regulations. This situation has developed partly through the changing style of purchasing holidays, but principally from the Court of Appeal decision as to what they considered constituted a ‘package’. Read More