Changing a travel package

Any price increase to the package cannot exceed actual costs. Price increases may only be based on:

• changes in carriage costs due to fuel or other energy prices
• changes in taxes on travel services
• changes in third parties’ charges on travel services, such as taxes and other charges related to the use of airports or ports
• changes in exchange rates relevant to the travel package.

The traveller must be notified of the price increase no later than 20 days before the start of the trip. The notification must clearly state the amount, basis and calculation method of the price increase.

If the price increase is more than 8% of the total price of the package, the traveller is entitled to cancel the contract without a cancellation fee within a reasonable time after being informed of the increase. If the organiser does not specify a reasonable time limit, the cancellation must be done within seven days.

Once the traveller has cancelled the contract, the organiser must refund the payments without undue delay and within 14 days at the latest. Travellers may also be entitled to compensation.

If a traveller’s right to a price reduction is specified in the contract terms and the cost of the package decreases, the package price must be reduced by at least an equivalent amount.

• The organiser may deduct an administration fee from the refund amount.
• At the request of the traveller, the organiser must provide evidence for the administrative costs.
• The traveller has the right to a price reduction corresponding to any decrease in costs until the start of the trip. In other words, price reductions are not limited to 20 days before the start of the trip, although price increases are.

If the organiser has to make significant changes to main features of the travel services prior to the start of the trip, the traveller must be notified of the changes as soon as possible. The changes must be clearly, comprehensibly and prominently communicated to the traveller.

• The notification to the traveller must be made on durable medium and specify the following:
• The changes the organiser intends to make.
• Whether the changes will reduce the quality or value of the package.
• Any price reduction to which the traveller is entitled as a result of the changes.
• At what point the traveller is deemed to have accepted the changes. The traveller can be considered to have accepted the changes if they do not cancel the trip within a reasonable time limit as specified in the notification.
• Information on the substitute package and its price, if the organiser offers a substitute package to the traveller who cancelled the original trip.

If the organiser significantly changes any of the main features of the trip, the traveller may cancel the contract without a cancellation fee within the time limit specified by the organiser.

A significant change from the point of view of the traveller can be e.g.:

• changes to departure or arrival times which cause significant difficulty or additional costs, e.g. from having to reorganise transport or accommodation
• changes to forms of transport in a way that significantly increases travel time
• a change of daytime flight to a night-time flight, resulting in e.g. arrival after midnight instead of afternoon as originally agreed
• change of destination
• a clear reduction in the standard of the accommodation.

Changes that substantially change the nature of the trip can also be considered significant, for example, in the following cases:

• Change of accommodation from one that has been marketed as accessible, to one that is not accessible for people with disabilities.
• A guided trip becomes self-guided.
• Excursions that are essential parts of the trip are removed from the itinerary.
• A change of accommodation, where the original hotel was marketed as child-friendly with children’s pools, play areas and children’s club, and the replacement hotel does not have these services nor are they available in the vicinity without extra cost.

If the traveller does not accept the changes to the original package and cancels the contract:

• The organiser must refund the payments without undue delay and within 14 days at the latest.
• The organiser may offer a substitute package at its discretion.

The traveller has the right to compensation for damages caused by the cancellation, such as expenses incurred from visas that are no longer needed, or connecting travel arrangements.

If the traveller does not cancel the contract within the time limit specified by the organiser, the traveller is deemed to have accepted the changes and will then be entitled to a price reduction. In this case, the price reduction may correspond to a reduction in the standard of the package or to a reduction in costs incurred by the organiser.