One passenger not coming on holiday next week!

[Sjk00]

I've booked a TUI holiday leaving next week, all paid for. My daughter's boyfriend isn't coming now - am I better off telling them and risking an under occupancy fee or just not booking him in at the airport? I don't mind losing the money (well I do but can't be helped!), I just don't want to pay any more if I can help it :-/

I wouldn’t tell them, not because I’d be trying to get out of paying but because I wouldn’t think to. Wouldn’t cross my mind at this stage, I’d just assume it was too late to cancel. I didn’t know about an under occupancy fee, but if you’re paying for him aren’t you already paying for him? Not sure if I’m making sense.

When my father in law didn’t come on holiday with us last year, we rang tui and they said just go to check in as normal and tell them he’s a “no show”

Makes perfect sense and that's what I thought! I've already paid for him in full so the hotel are making money as he won't be there to eat and drink anything..... But apparently I can still get 'fined' the cost of his holiday place as under occupancy, seems crazy!

That's great thank you, I just wasn't sure whether to leave it until the last minute or not - I could take a one of her friends with us if I was going to have to pay lots of under occupancy but would rather not if I don't have to

“apparently I can still get 'fined' the cost of his holiday place as under occupancy, seems crazy!”

Where have you got this information from? The only thing that matters is the terms and conditions of your holiday company, what do they say?

I’m baffled as to why you paid for your daughter’s boyfriend in the first place?!

I recently didn't go on holiday with DH, he never said anything about me not getting on the plane nor not being at the hotel.

A TUI rep in the travel agents told me but couldn't give exact details as i'd booked online. Their FAQs also state an under occupancy fee is charged if someone drops out

Thank you that's reassuring - the rep said if I don't mention it then they could be classed as missing when they don't arrive at the hotel and local police have been out looking for people before!! Feels like they may have been exaggerating but I've got no way of knowing for sure so wanted to do the right thing but without paying lots more money! Thank you :-)

You’re on the hook, sorry. It’s clear in the terms and conditions. https://www.tui.co.uk/destinations/booking/tandc?ptype=PDP

They will know when he does not check in for the flight and they are entirely within their rights to charge.

Why is he not coming? Have they split up?

If you don’t draw attention to it nothing will happen.

Yes they split up although had been together years so was unexpected. Thank you for confirming - that was my concern :-( I was just hoping there might be a way around it if others haven't been charged before - might just let them know and check in and see what happens. Thanks again

But why would it be under occupancy when you have still paid for the full holiday / room? I don’t get it

I would be inclined to go with a no show
(“He got held up on the way to the airport / missed the flight”)

IANAL but to me that just means you won't get any refund, not that you'll have to pay extra.
Ie if you booked for ten people at £500 each, total = £5000

If one cancels, your total cost doesn't become 9*500. It stays at £5000, so becomes 5000/9 per person

Am I wrong?

You have no idea what the charge would be. It probably is true that they are less likely to go after you for the under occupancy charge if he just doesn’t turn up on the day, but you can’t count on that. The good news is that they can’t whack on an extra fine/charge because you didn't tell them in advance, so you have nothing to lose by not saying anything. But you do need to be clear at check in (both flight and hotel) that he is not coming.

His holiday has already been paid 100%, they’ve had that fee already, I’d take this as if you try and cancel one person you’re liable for that cost split between the remaining guests, but it’s already been paid so it’s irrelevant here.

Because package holiday pricing is complicated, and often holidays are priced on the basis that guests will buy extras when in resort. If there is one less person there then the resort gets less income for extras so it needs to charge more. I’m not sure if the price of an all inclusive would be different for fewer people.

Agreed, they’ll get no refund but it’s already been paid.

No. Read again what it says in the Ts and Cs I posted upthread. There is potentially an extra charge to pay on top of the 100% forfeit of the price.

If your change means fewer adults travel, and your holiday price is based upon the number of adults, we’ll recalculate the total price and the price per person may go up. This extra price isn’t a termination fee. You will also need to pay the appropriate proportion of the termination fee for the adult who has cancelled. See “If you Cancel Your Holiday”.

You may be charged more for a no show fee than cancellation with regards to the flights I would have a chat with the travel agents tomorrow to discuss the terms and conditions, and I work in the industry. It can be off the record.

I’m pretty sure the under occupancy fee is only If one person cancels and doesn’t pay - since his share is already paid in full that won’t apply.

Yes, you are wrong. IAAL. Specialising in travel law.

They don’t have to charge the fee (and it has to reflect the actual increased price, not just be a random fine, so may not be very much) but they are within their rights to do so. No idea if they will actually be bothered to pursue it though.

Nope.

The under occupancy fees and termination fees are not applicable so close to the departure date as they don’t cancel them so close - usually 8 weeks out and beyond you can cancel one place (with appropriate termination fee) but the under occupation of the rooms means that the holiday may be no cheaper