Thomas Cook claims it is the first major UK tour operator to introduce a flexible policy to allow holidaymakers to amend bookings up to four weeks before departure for a reduced fee.
The new Flexible Terms policy, which costs £20 per person, allows changes to holiday bookings up to four weeks before departure without the usual amendment fees. This would allow for changes to the departure date or hotel, for example, for a reduced fee. A change of destination is restricted to more than 84 days before departure.
The policy, aimed at early bookers, could save “hundreds of pounds” on amendment fees, according to Alistair Hands, director of yield and pricing.
He said: “We know many of our customers book many months in advance but there is always a chance their plans and circumstances may change later. Across our industry, making changes to a holiday means paying amendment fees – but this offers customers an exclusive alternative.”
It is currently available to customers on charter package holidays with the company’s Thomas Cook, Airtours, Manos, Style and Club 18-30 brands and is only valid on bookings made more than 84 days before departure. The earliest departures Flexible Terms can be used for are on September 1, 2014.
It can only be bought at the time of booking or the next day, must be bought by all passengers on the booking, is redeemable against a single amendment per passenger and cannot be used to rebook the same holiday at a different price.
Flexible Terms is being launched for a introductory price of £15 per person for holidays booked before June 8 and follows a similar successful product offered to the group’s Scandinavian market.