Co-op Holidays to allow free holiday changes

Co-op Holidays is to waive admin fees for customers who want to change their holidays as part of its new ‘Co-op Holidays Promise’.

The tour operating arm of Midcounties Co-op says clients can also cancel up to six weeks before departure and forfeit only their deposit, which starts at £49 per person.

Those who want to switch to another holiday can do so for free, but will be obliged to pay any difference in price. If they transfer to a cheaper holiday they will be refunded the difference.

Co-op Holidays has also promised to refund any holidays it cancels within 10 days. It says it won’t issue Refund Credit Notes.

At the same time, the operator has launched a new travel insurance policy that includes medical cover for Covid-19 and also cancellation cover for holidaymakers who can’t travel due to a positive diagnosis.

The Covid-19 cover, launched in conjunction with Rock Insurance, will be added retrospectively to all policies sold since 14 April where EIG is the underwriter.

However, unlike some other policies launched in the past week or so, including ABTA’s new insurance policy, the new Co-op insurance doesn’t include cover for customers who can’t travel because they’ve been told to self-isolate after coming into contact with someone with Covid.

By Linsey McNeill, Editor (UK)