XL in administration

[Ian H]

Feel incredibly lucky that I decided to upgrade to Virgin from the basic package offered by my independent travel agent. Although I booked in June, I haven't even been asked for a fuel surcharge.
I guess VS51 will be packed next Thursday. Will Monarch come in early to save the day?

[Ben W]

I would've thought that any Surcharge would have been included in your upgrade cost. I'm not sure if they can (or will) ask for you for any extensions on any charge increases in the intervening period, I know BA don't, when making standard bookings anyway.

[Paul Tallet]

I am shocked but not surprised ... the 3rd largest flight operator ... now tell me that Monarch can see it through ...

Regards

[Ben W]

I am shocked but not surprised ... the 3rd largest flight operator ... now tell me that Monarch can see it through ...

Regards

Monarch are on of my company's clients and I work on the account, there's no need to worry about them going bust, they're doing pretty well!

There could be a worry about some routes though, as I mention in my other post, in the current climate, I think airlines will be very quick to pull routes where loads are not covering costs

[Patrick Dankou]

Hi,
Here is some additional info regarding the XL collapse, I hope it will help:

The following tour operators held Air Travel Organiser’s Licenses (ATOL) and customers that purchased air holidays and flights from them will be ATOL protected. Full details are on the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) ATOL website (http://www.atol.org.uk):

The Really Great Holiday Company PLC - ATOL 3827
Trading as: Cruise City, Excel Holidays, The Florida Skytrain, Transatlantic Vacations, Travel City Direct and Travel City International
Kosmar Villa Holidays PLC - ATOL 1760
Trading as: Kosmar Holidays
Freedom Flights Limited - ATOL 5296
Trading as: Freedom Flights
Aspire Holidays Limited - ATOL 6536
Trading as: Aspire Holidays
Customers currently abroad

You should be able to stay in your hotel or villa and complete your holiday. In most cases, your accommodation provider will be paid direct by the CAA so you will not incur any additional expenses. If you need to make any payments for items like hotels or transfers, you should obtain a receipt as far as possible. The CAA will be able to consider claims for refunds for these amounts.

A flight will be arranged to bring you home by the CAA. You can check with your holiday representative for information about any changes to your flight arrangements, or check on the ATOL website (http://www.atol.org.uk). For those customers in particular distress please contact the CAA’s help line on telephone number +44 (0) 2891 856 547.

Customers with advanced bookings but yet to travel

All passengers who have booked through a travel agent should contact that agent in the first instance who will be able to assist you in making a claim on ATOL. If you booked directly with an XL Group company than please contact ATOL directly.

ATOL may be able to provide an alternative arrangement. Further information is available on the ATOL website (http://www.atol.org.uk).

Customers booked with XL Airways Through XL.com or XL Call Centres

Unfortunately, customers who booked either through xl.com or xl call centres are not ATOL protected. Consequently, you will be ineligible for a refund from ATOL in respect of your flight.

Customers currently abroad

The CAA will be able to make arrangements for your return journey. As you fall into an unprotected category of customers you will be invoiced a fee on your return to the UK. Please check on the ATOL website (http://www.atol.org.uk) for details or go to the local airport ticketing desk where they will be able to make arrangements and inform passengers of the likely costs.

Alternatively, you may be able to find a flight better suited to your needs by making your own, independent arrangements to return home. The CAA is not in a position to cover the costs of your own arrangements. For all new bookings please ensure you retain your receipts.

If you are owed money as a result of incurring costs to return to the UK please send details of the amount owed to you by the Companies to Kroll Limited, Wellington Plaza, 31 Wellington Street, Leeds LS1 4DL.

Customers should check their travel insurance policy since it may provide cover for airline or accommodation failure. The type of protection provided may also vary depending on the type of policy taken out. A policy may cover the complete or partial cost of the original tickets or accommodation purchased.

If you paid by credit card, you may be protected by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. If you paid by Visa debit card you may also have some protection. You should check with your card issuer for further advice.

In the event that you wish to organise your own return travel, detailed below are a list of potential alternative carriers:

First Choice – 0871 200 7799
Thomas Cook – 0870 750 0119
Thomson – 0871 231 5938
Further information can be obtained from the Administrator’s help line as follows:

From the UK – 0800 068 8991
From Abroad - + 44 208 242 4783
Customers with advanced booking but yet to travel

All flights have been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

[Andy D]

What a joke! Just lost my flights for 16th October! BA want £1100 extra and Virgin around the same,it's a disgrace! At least i'll get my money back via my credit card company.

[Paul Tallet]

Point taken Ben ... but my point is that, sadly, companies are allowed to continue to trade and accept money (in advance) from their customers while there is a question mark over their finances ... it is irresponsible and should be a criminal offence and the directors should be held accountable.

It never made sense to see only slight increases in XL's prices over the same period that oil prices doubled ... XL did not have the margins to cover it and started trying to increase their cashflows earlier this year by demanding full payment for tickets rather than a deposit ... it stinks ... they should have either raised their prices or pulled out much earlier.

Andy ... Virgin were offering reasonably cheap tickets at about £485 per person for January 2009 when XL first pulled out ... 2 weeks later the prices have increased to £685 per person.

There is no sign of flights to Tobago on Monarch's website.

Although we have a right to whinge about this whole thing we also need to accept that cheap flights are going to be a thing of the past ... I think the prices that Virgin and BA charge are what skinflints like me are going to have to accept in future.

Regards

[Ian H]

I would've thought that any Surcharge would have been included in your upgrade cost. I'm not sure if they can (or will) ask for you for any extensions on any charge increases in the intervening period, I know BA don't, when making standard bookings anyway.

I thought that the carriers reserved the right to apply further fuel charges up until the point at which payment was made. If I remember correctly, I booked before the steep increase in oil prices (certainly petrol had a further 10p per litre to go) and I paid in full at around the peak some 7 weeks ago.

Since I'm going next Thursday I'm really thankful that I paid extra to go Virgin, but now I suspect that it will be on the cheap compared with anyone who managed to snap-up any spare seats today. Maybe some frequent flyers may be lucky to benefit from free upgrades (I can't see a failed XL traveller stretching to Premium Economy or above).

The next question: did they overbook? I hope not, otherwise they will need deep pockets to convince anyone not to travel. (but I have my price )

[Paul Tallet]

Hi Ian

Seems like you are sorted.

I would pay the Virgin/BA prices every time if I could afford it ... it always pays to buy from establishments with financial strength but when you have limited budgets you end up slumming it on cheaper flights when they are there.

As a consequence, it is slummers like me that pay the price for taking the risk ... it is a shame that places like Tobago could now be only for those that can afford £600 - £800 for the flight ... but maybe it's good in some ways.

I will still go there ... just less often It's a medical condition ... they won't stop me

Regards