Tour operators offering scheduled flights are calling on the Government to establish a level playing field with scheduled airlines over cancellation fees.
The move follows an investigation by the Office of Fair Trading after consumers complained about high cancellation charges imposed by tour operators (Travel Weekly June 7).
Travelscene sales director John Harding, who is also vice-chairman of ABTA Tour Operators’ Council, said it wanted to point out to the Government that, unlike the vertically integrated charter operators, scheduled operators do not have any control over the cancellation fees set by scheduled airlines.
“There is no logic in the application of cancellation charges. If a customer cancels a holiday and the ticket is issued, airlines charge a 100% cancellation fee. But if carriers such as British Airways cancel or reschedule, a customer doesn’t get anything.”
He said airlines can often pocket the cancellation fees because they can resell the flight. “It is penalising the responsible operators like us who issue the tickets early – in our case usually four weeks before departure,” he said.
“Some operators do not issue the ticket until two weeks before so if a customer cancels, the operator can pocket the cancellation fee.
“We cannot resell the holiday if a customer cancels but the airline can resell the seat at a premium.”
Harding said the issue was being addressed by the aviation committees of the Association of Independent Tour Operators and ABTA, which was in on-going talks with the OFT.
“The airlines have to play fair and the OFT has to look at both sides.”
He said a standard maximum cancellation fee should be 90%. “Air Passenger Duty and Passenger Service Charges are not charged unless the client travels,” he added.