Here Comes The Summer of 2008!
Summer has yet to arrive, but that does not mean that the heat of our favourite season has not radically altered the common sense and good practice of our favourite travel providers! Since the end of 2007, we have continued to receive reports of holiday illnesses, holiday accidents and illnesses arising from sick aircraft syndrome.
The continual reports of poor food hygiene, or general poor standards, continues to surprise, given that so many holiday claims have been pursued since 1997. We acknowledge that great strides have also been made in considering and applying, to a certain extent, good standard practices, however, gone are the days when it could be said that a lower classified hotel or complex would attract those low standards; a star rating is no guarantee that your health will be safe!
Coupled with this concern for the forthcoming season, we have seen a dramatic rise in the number of holiday changes, some arising no more than 12 hours before departure. The upset created by these changes are compounded by the response shown by travel providers to holidaymakers concerns.
It seems that the travel providers are finally waking up to the fact that Consumers are protected by The Package Travel Regulations. However, their interpretation as to how the rules apply can be best described by what we call, the ‘smorgasbord’ approach! They take a bit here, leave a bit there, often leaving the travel consumer with no choice at all!
Consumers should remember that they enjoy considerable protections under the Regulations. They should ensure that they familiarise themselves with their terms and conditions, the Package Travel Regulations and the ABTA Code of Conduct. Above all, get organised and follow the 12 Golden Rules of Travel!
This Article first appeared in the Travel-Zine of HolidayTravelWatch; Get’Away - Your Route to Travel Rights - Issue 6 - May 2008
Tags: holiday claims, holiday complaints, Holiday Food Poisoning Claims, holiday illness, Holiday Sickness
HTW has noted that amongst the submissions to the Committee on Toxicity (COT) it has been suggested that the symptoms highlighted by crew and passengers were akin to the condition of hyperventilation.
HTW has for many years received reports from concerned holiday makers or independent travellers as to the safety of their aircraft, ship or boat, train or road transport.
