Virgin Holidays rep told me to pay for hotel after Iran war forced flight cancellation

"You were fortunately familiar with the package travel and linked travel arrangements regulations, which require tour operators to pay for food and accommodation if a holiday is disrupted and to book you on to a flight home with a different airline if the original carrier can't fly you within a reasonable time. However, many travellers will be unaware of their rights."

"Contrary to what you were told, standard travel insurance policies do not cover costs caused by war. Equally concerning is the suggestion that Virgin made no effort to book customers on to the earliest available flights, regardless of the airline. Instead it wanted you to wait nine days for its chosen carrier."

Holidaymakers stranded in Mauritius during Gulf conflict faced cancellation of their Virgin Holidays package flight routed through Dubai. Virgin initially advised them to pay for accommodation themselves and claim through travel insurance, which does not cover war-related costs. Only after challenging this position did Virgin agree to cover hotel expenses. Other Virgin guests continued funding their own rooms or downgrading accommodation. Virgin insisted customers wait for their original airline to resume operations rather than booking earlier flights with alternative carriers. Package travel regulations require tour operators to provide accommodation and food during disruptions and arrange alternative flights within reasonable timeframes, protections many travellers remain unaware of.

Read at www.theguardian.com