Holidays & travel

The holiday and travel industry accounts for a substantial part of consumer expenditure. Since holidays often cost a lot, consumers not only look forward to going on holiday, but also expect a great deal from their holiday. When things go wrong, and these expectations are not lived up to, it can be very distressing to the consumer. Find out what your rights are when you go on holiday, how to protect yourself, and also what to do if your holiday does not go according to plan, in this section. Below, you will find a summary of the legal obligations involved in booking a holiday. If you would like to find out more, click on the links on the left-hand side of the page to access relevant articles.

When someone books a holiday, he or she enters into a contract with the holiday supplier. If the holiday is booked with a tour operator via a travel agent, the contract is with the tour operator. This means that if there are any problems with the holiday, it is the tour operator who is liable. If any problems do occur, the law automatically grants the holidaymaker a number of statutory rights, which are described in brief below.

Holidaymakers travelling by air, benefit from the Montreal Convention, which makes the airline liable for injury or death of passengers and loss or damage to personal property occurring whilst the property is in their care.

There are also provisions to ensure that the hotel contracted for, is not overbooked, and that representations about quality and price made by the tour operators, are true.

There are many different options available to people when trying to travel to a destination. They can choose to travel in their own vehicles, use public transport methods like trains or buses, and now with the increase of budget airlines and airfares, more and more people use air transport. Given the high frequency of travel, the majority of people's journeys pass without complaint. However, problems can and do occur so you need to know what your rights are and who to complain to if you run into trouble.

Below, you will find a summary of the topics covered in this travel section. If you would like more information, click on the links on the left-hand side of the page.

Throughout the UK, there are 30 train operating companies providing rail services. Onboard services they provide - such as baby changing, cycle space and catering - can vary from service to service. Find out about rail services in this section, and who to complain to if you receive an unsatisfactory service.

Flight services in the UK are made up of a number of individual services, including airport operation, tour companies and airlines, as well as government involvement. Airports are managed by different groups, depending on the activity concerned. Find out about flight services, how to keep yourself safe and healthy on board, and who to complain to if something goes wrong.

Taxis are licensed to pick up customers at ranks, by hailing on the street or by pre-booking; while private hire vehicles (PHVs) are only licensed to collect passengers who have pre-booked with a licensed operator. Both the vehicles and their drivers must be licensed, to ensure they meet certain legal requirements. Find out about taxi and private hire services in this section, and who to complain to if you run into any problems.

Buses are a great way of getting around, but things do go wrong from time to time. Find out who to complain to if you should run into any trouble.