Linked Travel Arrangements

What are my consumer rights when booking a linked travel arrangement?

A linked travel arrangement is a combined trip of at least 24 hours which you put together yourself via a trader such as a booking website. The trip consists of at least 1 overnight stay and transport or a different type of travel service, like an excursion. On this page, you can find all essential information regarding your consumer rights when booking a linked travel arrangement.

EU Directive 2015/2302

If you book a linked travel arrangement in the EU, Norway or Iceland, you have certain rights. These rights are governed by the EU Directive 2015/2302.

Linked Travel Arrangements

    If you book a linked travel arrangement, you have the right to expect that the travel arrangement matches the description given to you when you booked the arrangement. Read on to learn more about your rights.

  • Linked travel arrangements (LTAs) are travel services that are bought from different organisers or sellers — e.g. travel agencies — in separate contracts but are linked so as to put together one trip. They are classified as linked when one trader facilitates the booking of the subsequent service(s), and all services are purchased for the same trip or holiday.

    To qualify as an LTA, the combination of travel services should not constitute a package, and a supplier should facilitate the:

    • Booking based on a single visit (e.g. to a travel agent) or contact with its point of sale, or
    • Second booking, which is made in a targeted manner — and the contract for the second travel service provided by another supplier should be concluded within 24 hours of the booking confirmation for the first travel service.

    A combination of a travel service (such as accommodation) and a tourist service (like a guided tour or concert admission) can only be classified as a linked travel arrangement if the tourist service accounts for 25% or more of the trip’s overall value or is an essential feature of the trip.

    The trader cannot offer the LTA as a standard package or arrangement. You should conclude separate contracts with the individual travel service providers — although all this is facilitated by a single trader.

    #linked-travel-arrangement

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  • Before closing the LTA contract, the trader (the organiser or seller of the trip, e.g. a travel agency) should at least clearly inform you about the following facts:

    • You are about to book an LTA
    • Different rules and rights apply to an LTA than to a travel package
    • The trader is responsible for the portion of the trip they offer — which the traveller books with them
    • The trader provides security of the payments in event of bankruptcy

    #information-requirements-lta-contract

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  • If you opt for a LTA, you enter into contracts with different sellers. If one of these sellers goes bankrupt, they are only liable for the portion of the trip for which they have concluded a contract with you. The bankrupt seller must reimburse you for all costs incurred for their portion of the trip.

    For example, if an airline goes bankrupt while you are abroad, they should refund your ticket and arrange and/or pay for your repatriation.

    #bankruptcy-lta-seller

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  • If an error occurs during the booking procedure and it is beyond your control — for example due to a technical defect — you can hold the trader responsible.

    You are responsible for any errors you caused yourself — for example, by misspelling your name. The trader may charge costs to rectify these types of errors.

    #errors-in-lta-booking

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  • If you have a complaint about the performance of your LTA, you should contact the trader responsible for the portion of the trip you are dissatisfied with directly.

    If, for example, you are dissatisfied with the performance of your flight, you should report this directly to the airline company.

    If you have a complaint about your LTA and the problem is the organiser’s responsibility, you are entitled to compensation in the form of an appropriate price reduction and/or compensation for damages.

    You are required to inform the organiser of your complaint without undue delay. They should remedy the situation within a reasonable period, unless:

    • The situation cannot be remedied
    • It entails disproportionate costs
       

    Should either of these exceptions occur, you are entitled to a price reduction and/or compensation for damages.

    If the organiser fails to remedy the situation within a reasonable period, you may do so yourself and request reimbursement of the necessary expenses from the organiser.

    If the problem substantially affects the performance of the travel services and the organiser fails to remedy the situation within a reasonable period, you have the right to terminate the contract without paying a termination fee and request a price reduction and/or compensation for damages.

    If a significant portion of the travel services cannot be provided, the organiser must offer you a suitable alternative arrangement. If this results in an LTA of lower quality, the organiser should give you an appropriate price reduction.

    #complaints-about-lta-performance

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Where can I get assistance and advice?

The European Consumer Centres Network provides free legal advice and support on cross-border purchasing issues. It can also help consumers deal with disputes relating to travelling in the EU, Norway, and Iceland. If you have tried to resolve a dispute with a business to no avail, click here to contact your local ECC and submit an enquiry.
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