Your Contract
Unless otherwise stated on the confirmation invoice your contract is with Major Travel Plc hereinafter referred to as "The Company"
whose registered office is at 28/34 Fortess Road London NW5 2HB and who
act as principal under CAA ATOL Licence number 2933. Please read
the booking conditions carefully before you commit to a firm booking:
Consumer
Protection
The air holidays and flights on this site are ATOL protected, since we
hold an Air Travel Organizer's license granted by the Civil Aviation Authority.
Our ATOL number is 2933. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the
CAA will ensure that you are not stranded abroad and will arrange to refund
any money you have paid to us for an advance booking. For further information,
visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk
Booking
Conditions
The conditions vary whether you book a seat only on an airline or a "package".
A package is a combination of at least 2 travel components, sold to you
as an inclusive price fully payable to The Company. The conditions relating
to a package are outlined in paragraph " Inclusive holidays".
This contract
is made under the terms of these Booking Conditions which are governed
by English Law and both parties shall submit to the jurisdiction of the
English Courts at all times.
For Airline
tickets only, accommodation only or services such as car rental, insurance
or other, The Company acts as a booking agent. Your contract is with the
suppliers and their conditions apply.
Any booking
made by you on our website or otherwise shall be deemed an offer by you
to purchase the relevant travel arrangements.
No contract
between you and the Company shall come into existence until the Company
accepts full payment and issues a confirmation invoice.
Alteration
and Cancellation of Airline Tickets
Airline tickets are not transferable under any circumstances. Name changes
are not allowed on a booking even if the ticket is not yet issued. The following
cancellation fees may apply to the ticket you have purchased:
Before
Ticketing
Amendment change of date or itinerary: £25.00
Cancellation of Booking: loss of deposit.
After Ticketing
Some tickets carry 100% cancellation fee.
A change
of departure date will be treated as a full cancellation the 100% cancellation
fee if appropriate will apply.
Cancellation
fee on partially refundable airline tickets; from £75 to a maximum of
£ 175. Some airlines allow a change of return date for a fee.
A partially
used ticket has very little refund value, if you have not used parts of
your tickets please return the documents to us, we will endeavour to recover
a partial refund, if applicable.
Please note
that we act as agents of the airlines, you have to abide by their rules
and conditions.
Check
in Procedure
As a rule you must check in at the airport at least 2 hours before departure
for long haul travel and 1 hour for short haul. Some airlines require
a longer check in time, we will advise you if this is the case. We cannot
be responsible for you missing a flight due to lateness in check in at
the airport.
Travel/Passports
and Visas
When you travel with the carrier, the carrier’s conditions apply, some
may have limited liability. Please note that in accordance with Air Navigation
Orders, an infant must be less than 2 years of age on the date of the
return flight, to qualify for infant status. All passengers will require
passport and all appropriate visas, many countries require that your passport
should be valid for a further 6 months from the date of entry. We do not
accept any responsibility if you do not comply with the regulations.
Travel
to the USA
Most visitors to the United States enter the country as tourists. With the introduction of visa free travel to citizens of 27 countries, it is now possible for many travelers, including British citizens, to enter the United States without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program (WVP). Visa free travel is also available to qualified travelers who enter the United States on business or in transit.
Citizens of the following countries: Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom may travel visa free under the Visa Waiver Program if they meet ALL of the following requirements:
• The traveller is a citizen of one of the countries named above, traveling on a valid, individual machine readable passport. Note: A passport indicating that the bearer is a British Subject, British Dependent Territories Citizen, British Overseas Citizen, British National (Overseas) Citizen, or British Protected Person does not qualify for travel without a visa. A passport which states holder has Right of Abode or indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom does not qualify for visa free travel;
• Traveling for business, pleasure or transit only;
• Staying in the United States for 90 days or less;
Important: Some travelers may not be eligible to enter the United States visa free under the VWP. These include people who have been arrested, even if the arrest did not result in a criminal conviction, those with criminal records, (the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act does not apply to U.S. visa law), certain serious communicable illnesses, those who have been refused admission into, or have been deported from, the United States, or have previously overstayed on the VWP. Such travelers must apply for special restricted visas. If they attempt to travel without a visa, they may be refused entry into the United States.
Please note: that if you are from a Visa Waiver Program country and you have had your passport issued on or after 26 October 2005 you will need a passport with a digital photograph. Citizens of France, Italy and Austria with passports issued after this date might need to obtain a US visa. All other countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program will normally issue passports with digital photos from this date.
Children and infants must obtain their own machine readable passport.
For further information visit the US Embassy Website: www.usembassy.org.uk
Health
Please check the various health requirements for the country you are visiting.
Transit
Although you may not leave the airport while in transit you will need
a visa for the country of transit if applicable.
Payment
You may pay us by credit or debit card, cheque or cash. The company will
not accept responsibility for cash lost in the post. If your travel documents
are being paid by a third party who is not travelling with you we will
require written authorisation to be provided by the cardholder. All documents
will be posted to the billing address of the cardholder.
Ticket
Delivery
You can collect your travel documents from our office. Or we can mail them to you by first class mail free of charge if you book at least 7 days before departure. A charge of £10.00 will be made for special delivery or registered mail if departures are within 7 - 4 days. This does not apply if delivery to republic of Ireland or overseas - see tickets on departure.
Tickets
on Departure
We can arrange free tickets on departure to most airports, however some
regional airports and some airlines impose a charge for issuing tickets
on departure.
Lost
Tickets
Most tickets are electronically issued (e-ticket) An itinerary will be issued and will have to be Presented at the check-in desk. This service is free of charge.
However some airlines who do not operate e-tickets will impose a ticket on departure fee if you are travelling within 96 hours. Charges are as follows;
Any ticket on departure to London Gatwick will be £65.00 and London Heathrow will be £55.00
All other regional airports - please call our reservation team.
Alteration
by the Company
The Company cannot control or prevent changes implemented by their suppliers.
Airlines reserve the right to alter their timing or cancel flights. Should
a scheduled change occur we will endeavour to minimise the inconvenience
you may experience, we cannot however offer any compensation. The Company
is not liable for any cancellation or amendment of flights implemented by
the carrier. We strongly recommend that you reconfirm your flights 72 hours
before departure.
Please check
your travel documents carefully, the Company must be advised of any error
within 72 hours of receipt
Special
Request
These will be passed on to the relevant supplier but cannot be guaranteed
by the Company.
Travel
Insurance
We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance for your whole
journey.
Car Rental/Hotel
Reservation
Should you be unable to present your car or accommodation vouchers to
our suppliers You may be charged again for the services locally, this
may be at a higher cost. We will only refund you the amount you have paid
us before departure.
INCLUSIVE
HOLIDAYS
Major
Travel Price Policy
All prices are based upon costs and exchange rates as shown in the relevant
brochure or on currant rates at the time of quotation for tailor-made
holidays.
After a confirmation invoice has been issued, unless you the holiday is
fully paid, the price of your holiday is subject to the possibility of
surcharge in certain limited circumstances. However a surcharge will only
be levied solely to allow for variations in transportation cost, including
the cost of fuel, increase in normal published airfares, taxes and fees
chargeable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation fees at ports
or airports. Even then the Company will absorb an amount equal to 2% of
your holiday price (excluding insurance premiums and amendments surcharge)
before passing on any surcharge to you. Surcharges will be notified by
a revised Confirmation invoice sent to you.
If a surcharge would increase the total holiday price shown on your original
invoice by 10% or more, you may cancel your booking within 14 days of
the date of issue of the revised invoice and obtain a full refund of all
payments made to the company at that time.
You may wish to pay for your holiday in full at the time of booking, in
which case your holiday price will be fixed at the cost quoted by the
Company at that time.
The balance of the price of your holiday must be paid at least 56 days
before your departure date. If the balance is not paid in time we reserve
the right to cancel your holiday, retain your deposit, and apply the cancellation
charges set out in paragraph 4 below. If after confirmation has been issued,
you wish to change to another of our holidays or change departure date,
we will do our utmost to make the changes, provided that notification
is received in writing at our offices from the person who signed the booking
form. This must be accompanied by a payment of £25 to cover our administration
costs
Cancellation
You, or any member of your party, may cancel your holiday at any time
providing that the cancellation is made by the person signing the booking
form and is communicated to us in writing. As this incurs administrative
costs, we will retain your deposit and in addition may apply cancellation
charges up to the maximum shown below.
Period
before departure within which written cancellation is received |
Amount
of cancellation charges shown as a percentage of the holiday price |
More
than 42 days |
Loss
of Deposit |
More
than 32 days |
30% |
More
than 22 days |
50% |
More
than 01 days |
75% |
Less
than one day |
100% |
Major Travel will make every effort to assist you if you wish to alter
your arrangements, if you are prevented from taking your holiday you may
transfer your holiday to another person provided that:
1- You request the transfer in writing giving a reasonable amount of time
for the changes to be communicated to the suppliers.
2- Your request is accompanied by documentary proof of the reason for
the transfer.
3- You and the transferee will be jointly responsible for any additional
charges imposed by the suppliers providing the components parts of the
holiday as well as any administration charges we will agree upon.
IMPORTANT
Please note that all our holidays are on scheduled airlines. Once a booking
is made even if the tickets are not issued we cannot do a name change.
The previous booking will have to cancel and a new booking made. We cannot
guarantee that we will be able to provide an airline ticket on the same
airline at the same price that on the previous booking. Further more after
a ticket is issued the airlines cancellation fees will apply. Some airlines
charge 100% cancellation fees.
NOTE: If the reason for cancellation is covered under the terms of an
insurance policy you may be able to reclaim these charges.
Insurance cover taken through Major Travel cannot be cancelled, premiums
remain payable in full and are not to be taken into account in the total
holiday price for the purpose of calculating cancellation charges.
Changes
Occasionally changes may be made, which we reserve the right to do at
any time. Most of these changes are minor, and we will advise you or your
travel agent at the earliest possible date. Flight timings and carriers
in the brochure are subject to change as a result of airline procedures
and these details are given for guidance only. Final details will be shown
on your tickets. If a major change becomes necessary, we will inform you
or your travel agent as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before
departure. When a major change occurs, provided it does not arise from
circumstances amounting to Force Majeure (see below), you will have the
choice of either accepting the change of arrangements, taking another
available holiday from us, or canceling your holiday and receiving a full
refund on all monies paid. A major change is one that we make to your
holiday arrangements before departure that involves changing your outbound
or arrival airport, time of departure or return by more than 12 hours,
offering accommodation of a lower standard for a whole or substantial
part of your holiday. All other changes will be treated as minor changes.
You may accept the modification, you may change your booking to another
available holiday or you may cancel and receive a full and prompt refund.
If you choose another holiday, which is more expensive, you must pay the
difference, but if it is cheaper, the Company will make the appropriate
refund. If you cancel and receive a full refund following a significant
modification made for any reason other than Force Majeure you will receive
the following minimum compensation, calculated according to the number
of days prior to departure that you are notified of the change.
Days prior to Departure Date Compensation when
Notification of Change is sent Per Person:
More than 42 days £10
29-42 days prior £20
15-28 days prior £25
0-14 days prior £30
In no case will we cancel your holiday less than 56 days before the scheduled
departure date except for the reason of Force Majeure or failure on your
part to pay the final balance. In circumstances where we are unable to
provide the holiday booked, we will return to you all monies paid, or
offer an alternative holiday of comparable standard.
Force Majeure
means unusual and unforeseeable circumstances beyond
the control of the party by whom this exception is pleaded, the consequences
of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised.
The circumstances may include but are not limited to: war, threat of war,
riot, civil strife, terrorist activity, (actual or threatened), technical
problems with transport, machinery equipment, power failure, natural or
nuclear disaster, fire, flood, drought, adverse weather conditions.
If the Company becomes unable to provide a significant proportion of your
holiday after it has commenced, suitable alternative arrangements will
be made for you at no extra charge to you or, alternatively, you will
be returned to your point of departure and given a pro-rata refund for
ground arrangements not received.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company applies all reasonable checks to ensure that those involved
in the preparation and provision of your holiday maintain the appropriate
standards. The descriptions, information and opinions given in this brochure
by the Company in respect of the airlines, hotels and other suppliers
whose services are used are given in good faith, based on the latest information
available at the time of printing. The Company accepts liability for any
loss you may suffer if any part of the holiday arrangements you book with
the Company before departure is not as described and not of a reasonable
standard. The Company also accepts liability if you suffer death or personal
injury as a direct result of these holiday arrangements failing to be
as described and of a reasonable standard. However, these acceptances
of liability do not apply if there has been no fault on the part of the
Company or its servants, agents or suppliers and the loss, death or personal
injury suffered is attributable to your own acts or omissions or to the
acts or omissions of a third party not involved in providing the services
which make up your holiday, or to unusual or unforeseeable circumstances
or events which could not have been anticipated or avoided by the Company
or its servants, agents or suppliers even with the exercise of all due
care.
The Company's liability to compensate you and the amount of such compensation
is subject to the following limitations. First, in the case of damage
other than death, illness or personal injury, compensation is restricted
to a reasonable amount having regard to such factors as the holiday cost
and the extent to which the enjoyment of your holiday can be said to have
been affected. Second, in all cases, liability and compensation are limited
in accordance with the provisions of all international conventions which
concern transportation and accommodation, namely the Warsaw Convention
1929 (as amended), the Berne Convention 1961, the Athens Convention 1974,the
Geneva Convention 1973 and the Paris Convention 1962. Copies of these
Conventions are available on request. If you suffer death, injury or illness
during your holiday arising out of an activity which does not form part
of the inclusive arrangements booked with the Company, the Company will
offer assistance where appropriate and in its sole discretion. This assistance
must be requested within 90 days of your misadventure and will be limited
to general advice and/or assistance with legal fees up to £5,000 per Booking
Form, such contributions to be repaid to the Company out of any judgement
or insurance payment you subsequently obtain.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
(a) General information concerning passport, visa and health requirements
applicable to UK Citizens is set out in the brochures. However, such requirements
are subject to change and you must check current requirements before departure.
It is your responsibility to obtain all documents required for your holiday,
to ensure that these are in proper order and to take them with you. The
Company will not be liable if you fail to do so and you will be responsible
for meeting any additional costs incurred by reason of such failure.
(b) You are responsible for checking-in for flights at the correct time
and for presenting yourself to take up all pre-booked components of your
holiday. The Company cannot accept responsibility for clients missing
flights as a result of late check-ins and no credit or refunds will be
given if you fail to take up any component of your holiday. No creditor
refunds will be given for lost, mislaid or destroyed travel documents.
AIRLINES & OTHER SUPPLIERS
(a) As between you and the suppliers of the transport, accommodation and
other components making up your holiday, the conditions of the supplier
will apply. These conditions may be subject to international Conventions,
which limit and/or restrict the suppliers' liability.(Copies are available
on request - please allow 28 days).
(b) Transport timings are provided by the carrier concerned and are subject
to such matters as weather conditions, maintenance requirements, the ability
of passengers to check-in on time and, in the case of flights, to air
traffic control restrictions. Accordingly the times of flights and other
forms of transport are estimates only and cannot be guaranteed.
(c) Some activities carry inherent risks and if you are participating
in such activities you may be asked to sign an additional form by the
local supplier.
Holiday Problems
If you have a problem during your holiday, please inform the relevant
supplier (e.g. Hotel) and resort representative immediately who will endeavor
to put things right. Please follow this up within 28 days of your return
home by writing to our Customer Services Department at 28/34 Fortess Road,
London NW5 2HB giving your original booking reference number and all other
relevant information. It is unlikely that you will have a complaint that
cannot be settled amicably between us. However, disputes arising out of,
or in connection with this contract, which cannot be amicably settled,
may (if you wish) be referred to Arbitration under a special scheme, which,
though devised by arrangement with the Association of British Travel Agents,
is administered quite independently by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
Full details are available from the Association of British Travel Agents,
55-57 Newman Street, London W1P 4AH. |