Two friends from Styria wanted to explore South Africa last year. But shortly before the start of the journey, one of the spouses died. Although the Package Travel Act stipulates that a substitute can make the trip, the travel provider rejected this offer. Now a legal dispute has broken out.
It should have been a wonderful trip to beautiful South Africa for friends Helga and Elisabeth (names changed). In September last year they wanted to participate, booked as a package with a well-known provider. But then tragedy struck unexpectedly: Elisabeth’s husband, who was traveling with her, died on Sunday, September 17. So it was clear that the woman could not fly.
Husband died unexpectedly
A day later, Helga, who had booked the offer, informed the travel provider of the sad circumstances. Also that she had found someone to take the trip instead of her friend. But the travel organization was stubborn: a replacement could not take over the trip. This person can only make additional bookings.
The flight alone should cost around 5000 euros! Although the package deal of the two friends amounted to around 3200 euros. According to her lawyer Marc Simbürger, Helga should also have paid a single room supplement. Because the pressure of rising cancellation costs became too great, the trip was ultimately canceled and 65 percent of the cancellation costs were paid – around 2,000 euros.
“The organizer said that the widow could contribute to the costs,” says Simbürger angrily. “In such an exceptional situation you could expect not only support, but also the right to transfer the package travel contract in accordance with the Package Travel Act.”
The organizer justifies the procedure by saying, among other things, that the airline tickets had already been issued at the time of the report. Existing tickets can no longer be rewritten. An attempt was made to find a solution quickly.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
