The Package Travel Directive is the EU rule set that governs how package holidays and linked travel arrangements are sold, changed, and refunded across member states.
The directive requires clear pre-contract information, price-change limits after booking, insolvency protection, and a right to cancel or transfer under defined circumstances. Support teams meet the directive most often through three ticket types: major-change acceptance or refund, price-increase disputes, and insolvency claims when a supplier fails.
Verify the current text of the directive and any national implementation against the primary EUR-Lex or national regulator source at build time, since amendments continue.
Common questions
Does the Package Travel Directive apply to UK sellers after Brexit?
The UK has retained its own Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations, closely modeled on the directive. Sellers into the UK follow the UK version.
What counts as a “major change” under the directive?
A significant alteration to a main element of the package, or a price rise above the stated threshold. The passenger can then accept the change, take a substitute, or cancel with a full refund.