The pledge has been designed to give holidaymakers extra assurances when booking a package during the Covid crisis, with signatories required to uphold a number of commitments.
These include:
- Allowing customers to rebook without incurring amendment charges if their flights are changed or cancelled because of Covid-19;
- Allowing customers to rebook without incurring amendment charges for any element of the package booked if the Foreign Office changes its advice to advise against all but essential travel to their destination country;
- Allowing customers to rebook without incurring amendment charges for any element of the package booked if a customer or member of their household tests positive for Covid prior to departure;
- Providing a full refund if any element of the booking is not available and the travel provider is unable to offer an equivalent holiday (in line with Abta’s definition of a "significant" change);
- Paying refunds within 14 days of cancellation;
- Allowing customers to change or cancel their booking without incurring charges for any element of their package if, between booking and departure, the UK imposes a quarantine requirement on arrivals from their destination country.
Other signatories include British Airways Holidays, Virgin Holidays, Travel Counsellors, Trailfinders and Travel Republic.
Steve Heapy, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays chief executive, hailed the pledge’s commitments as being likely key drivers of consumer confidence this summer.
"We are proud to sign up to BBC Watchdog’s Package Holiday Pledge, and we are proud of the fact that we are already delivering on the commitments in the pledge," said Heapy.
"We warmly welcome BBC Watchdog’s campaign as it will further help customers when it comes to understanding who to trust and who not to trust when booking a package holiday.
"With confidence returning and holidaymakers looking forward to getting away this summer and beyond, this pledge further underlines our customer-first strategy."
’Long-term commitment’
Matt Callaghan, easyJet holidays customer director, added: "Holidaymakers can be reassured that our policies are endorsed by the nation’s leading consumer champion.
"Throughout the pandemic, we’ve prided ourselves on doing the right thing, from being the first major tour operator to repatriate customers, to processing refunds in an average of 10 days and launching the protection promise, which offers the ultimate flexibility and protection.
"Our policies are long term and here to stay, rather than a short-term reaction to the events of the past year. We’re really pleased this has been recognised by Watchdog and we’ll continue to do the right thing now and in the future when we can start taking our customers away on their well-earned holidays once again."
