The package holiday organiser made significant changes. Can I cancel?

What the Law Says

The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 give you clear rights when your package holiday is changed significantly before departure.

A 'package holiday' in the UK means a combination of at least two of: transport, accommodation, or other tourist services — sold or offered for sale at an inclusive price and covering a period of more than 24 hours or including overnight accommodation.

If the organiser makes a 'significant change' to key aspects — such as travel dates, destination, type or category of accommodation, or price — you have the right to cancel without charge and receive a full refund. This applies if the change is notified less than 14 days before departure.

A price increase of more than 8% is automatically treated as significant — unless it results from increases in fuel costs, taxes, fees, or exchange rates, and was clearly reserved in your contract.

Statutory Text

A significant change includes a change to the price, destination, duration, or type or category of accommodation.

— The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, reg. 13(2)

Statutory Text

Where the organiser proposes a significant change… the traveller may cancel the package without paying any cancellation fee and shall be entitled to a full refund.

— The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, reg. 13(3)

Statutory Text

A price increase of more than 8% shall be regarded as a significant change.

— The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, reg. 13(4)

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