‘I work in travel – it’s safer to book package holidays right now’

A travel specialist has suggested booking package holidays in case of cancellations

Holidaymakers have been told they could enjoy more consumer protection if they book a package holiday, according to a travel specialist. Amid reports of airlines trying to conserve jet fuel following the Middle East conflict, many travellers are asking what would happen if their flights are cancelled this summer.

While Gov.uk says there are no immediate jet fuel supply issues and preparations are being made to avoid disruption, many people are still planning ahead so they know what might happen in a worst-case scenario. According to travel professionals, it could depend on how you made your booking.

Rob Brooks, a travel specialist and influencer with the travel company, On The Beach, claims: “Package holidays are safer right now.” He argues: “If you book flights and hotels separately, you’re on your own when things go wrong.

“But with a package holiday, everything’s protected – so if your flight’s cancelled, you’re covered. I work in travel, and this is exactly why more people choose package holidays.” Rob shared his claim on TikTok under the username @Robonthebeach. He is known for posting budget-friendly travel advice, hotel reviews, and holiday tips to his 139k followers.

In his post, Rob reiterated advice Martin Lewis shared – that people who book flights and hotels separately could risk losing money if their transport arrangements go wrong. In a video posted on his official TikTok, the MoneySavingExpert founder has previously told viewers that how you book can make a big difference to your consumer rights.

When Martin was asked if you definitely receive your money back for a hotel booking when flights are cancelled, he said: “No, no – and this is what I think people need to be very aware of. If you have booked a package holiday, where you booked everything in one, and under the Package Holiday Regulations and rules and protections, generally, if your flight went, you will get everything back.

“So actually, at the moment, package holidays give you a certain level of extra surety that you wouldn’t get if you did a DIY booking – where you book your hotel and flight separately.”

However, Martin said you might not be protected if you completed a DIY booking. “The issue is you can’t get there. Your hotel is still there. It’s not faulty. It’s not cancelling. So you don’t get those consumer rights,” he explained.

As a result, holidaymakers may prefer to book with package providers. Responding to Martin’s advice, Rob told his followers: “I’ve actually been wanting to make this video for a while now, but to be honest I didn’t want to come across as biased because I actually work for a package holiday company. But now the king of saving money has spoken about it, I can talk about it properly.”

He continued: “The bottom line is this, if you book your flight and your hotel separately, they don’t work together. So if your flight gets cancelled, your hotel’s not really done anything wrong. It’s still there, it’s still booked, and most of the time, unfortunately, you don’t get your money back, and I think a lot of people don’t realise that. However, package holidays are completely different.”

Rob claims: “When you book with a package holiday company, like On the Beach, LoveHolidays, Jet2 Holidays, or TUI, everything gets booked together. So if your flight does get cancelled, it’s not just your problem anymore; it’s the holiday company’s problem to fix for you.

“That usually means one of two things: either you find another flight that’s suitable, or they have to refund the whole thing. About 99% of flights are still going ahead as planned. So this is just small pockets of disruption, but when you are in that 1%, that’s when this really, really matters.”

The Mirror contacted several travel companies in response to the video. For customers booking with On the Beach, the package holiday company has committed to same-day processing of refunds for any cancelled flights. Under the scheme, On the Beach said that if your flight is cancelled, it will find you an alternative flight or give you a full refund on your entire holiday, processing it on the same day.

Caspar Nelson, holiday expert at On the Beach, said: “Holidaymakers deserve certainty, especially when disruption strikes. We’re proud to be the first package holiday provider to commit to same-day refund processing for cancelled flights, giving customers the confidence to book knowing we’ve got their back when it matters most.

“If the worst happens and a flight is cancelled, we’ll move quickly to either find a new route or return every penny of their holiday money that same day, so they can get a new break booked, make alternative plans fast, and get back to looking forward to their summer instead of worrying about it.”

A loveholidays spokesperson said: “There are still plenty of affordable getaways available this summer and booking a package holiday gives consumers built-in protection so they can travel with confidence. In the unlikely event of disruption prior to travel, such as a cancelled flight where no suitable alternative is available, customers are entitled to a full refund of their holiday under the Package Travel Regulations – added protection you wouldn’t get by booking your flight and hotel separately. All of our package holidays are also protected by the ‘gold standard’ ATOL scheme, alongside our own secure trust account, so holidaymakers can relax knowing their holiday is in safe hands from start to finish.”

Ahead of summer, some people may still prefer DIY bookings. In these cases, holidaymakers may wish to consider hotels with free or limited cancellation. It’s also advised to check your travel insurance, as your policy may not cover your hotel if your flight is cancelled.

The Mirror has contacted Jet2 Holidays and TUI for comment.