Are package holidays transferable?

[northwest monkey]

As the title says really. The MiL has seen a holiday advertised on Ebay for about £500. It's for a week in September for 2 adults to somewhere warm (can't remember where - maybe a Greek island) & the seller says she's paid about £1500 for it but can't go due to work commitments.

For no reason whatsoever, this is ringing alarm bells with me. I trade full time on Ebay, but I'm not sure I'd be happy about handing over £500 for something non-tangible such as a holiday. From a sellers point of view, I'd be very concerned about transferring my holiday tickets into someone's name who could easily do a Paypal or Ebay INR/SNAD claim. From a buyers point of view, I'd be very worried about handing over £500 for something that could be worthless upon arrival at the airport.

I wasn't actually aware tickets for package holidays could be transferred, but maybe I'm wrong?

Also, would the MiL be covered under ATOL / ABTA protection as it wasn't her who booked the holiday?

Advice welcomed

[h0b0]

Flight tickets will not transfer. The holiday is worthless to anyone other than the name on the ticket.

[mrmr96]

h0b0 said:

Flight tickets will not transfer. The holiday is worthless to anyone other than the name on the ticket.

Sure?

[northwest monkey]

So that's a no & a maybe then

[marshalla]

CAB think that package holidays can be transferred, but there are rules about the reason for the transfer : http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/nireland/consumer_ni...

[BrabusMog]

It does, quite literally, depend on the clients contract with their tour operator. I work for a travel company and we do offer name changes for an admin fee of £100 per person plus any additional costs the airline impose which are usually substantial.

[marshalla]

BrabusMog said:

It does, quite literally, depend on the clients contract with their tour operator. I work for a travel company and we do offer name changes for an admin fee of £100 per person plus any additional costs the airline impose which are usually substantial.

You might find this ( http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3288/regul... ) interesting reading.

[northwest monkey]

Thanks folks

I'll tell her not to bother but to book somewhere nice in the UK instead for a week.

Then me & the missus & the little fella can have a free weekend away

[BrabusMog]

marshalla said:

You might find this ( http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3288/regul... ) interesting reading.

Not particularly, we are an ethical and responsible operator who have made a point of negotiating terms with airlines and ground agents over the years to try and make sure we can do the best for our clients should they need to cancel. Given the amount of work required to do a name change within 60 days to departure (especially when flight tickets have been issued), £100 is a reasonable admin fee to charge. Although I wouldnt buy a name change holiday off of eBay but, then again, I like to think I'm not an idiot.

[h0b0]

mrmr96 said:

Sure?

Give it a try. Buy a package that includes flights off eBay and call up the airline to change the flight details. It's not going to happen. For this to have a remote chance of working the seller would have to do the leg work and they are not going to.