What are the Package Travel Regulations?

The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 are UK laws governing package holidays and linked travel arrangements. They came into force on 1 July 2018 and were introduced to implement EU Directive 2015/2302 into UK legislation. The Regulations make the package organiser responsible for ensuring that the travel services included in a package holiday are delivered as agreed, even when those services are provided by third parties such as airlines or hotels. If the services are not provided as agreed, travellers may be entitled to a price reduction, compensation or the right to terminate the package travel contract, depending on the circumstances.

When are you covered by the Package Travel Regulations?

You are generally covered when you purchase at least two different types of travel services for the same trip or holiday, provided they meet the legal definition of a package. This could include a flight and hotel accommodation, or a flight and car hire. The services may be purchased from a single provider, sold at a combined price or booked through certain linked online booking processes. The Regulations generally apply to package holidays lasting more than 24 hours or including overnight accommodation. Certain separately booked travel services may qualify as linked travel arrangements, which receive more limited protection than package holidays. If you book only a flight, you are not covered by the Package Travel Regulations for that booking. However, you may still be protected by UK261 or EU261, depending on your flight route and airline.

Frederik Hedegaard

Chief Marketing Officer

Table of contents

What does this mean for your flight?
Have you booked a package holiday and experienced a flight cancellation or delay?
Frequently asked questions about the Package Travel Regulations

Claim refund or compensation

Cancelled flight Delayed flight Other

Package Travel Regulations

The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 are the UK rules that protect travellers who book package holidays, such as flights, hotels and car hire combined into a single package. The Regulations were introduced to implement EU Directive 2015/2302 into UK law and continue to apply following Brexit.

They set out the package organiser's responsibilities when travel services are changed, cancelled or not provided as agreed. Depending on the circumstances, travellers may be entitled to a refund, price reduction or compensation.

Meaning: Consumer protection for package holidays
Relevant to: Flights, hotels, car hire and combined travel services
Regulation: Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018

What does this mean for your flight?

The Package Travel Regulations and UK Regulation 261/2004 (UK261) provide separate but complementary protections.

Under the Package Travel Regulations, the organiser is responsible for ensuring that the services included in your package holiday are provided as agreed. If your trip is significantly changed, cancelled or not delivered as promised, you may be entitled to a refund, price reduction or compensation from the organiser.

At the same time, UK261 protects eligible air passengers in the event of flight delays, cancellations or denied boarding. You may therefore be entitled to claim flight compensation directly from the airline, even if your flight was booked as part of a package holiday.

Example: If your package holiday flight arrives at its destination 5 hours late, you may be entitled to compensation from the airline under UK261. If the delay also affects your package holiday, you may have additional rights against the package organiser. However, you cannot receive compensation twice for the same loss.

Have you booked a package holiday and experienced a flight cancellation or delay?

You may be entitled to flight compensation of up to £520.

Check whether your flight qualifies

Frequently asked questions about the Package Travel Regulations

The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 are UK laws governing package holidays and linked travel arrangements. They came into force on 1 July 2018 and were introduced to implement EU Directive 2015/2302 into UK legislation.
The Regulations make the package organiser responsible for ensuring that the travel services included in a package holiday are delivered as agreed, even when those services are provided by third parties such as airlines or hotels.
If the services are not provided as agreed, travellers may be entitled to a price reduction, compensation or the right to terminate the package travel contract, depending on the circumstances.
You are generally covered when you purchase at least two different types of travel services for the same trip or holiday, provided they meet the legal definition of a package.
This could include a flight and hotel accommodation, or a flight and car hire. The services may be purchased from a single provider, sold at a combined price or booked through certain linked online booking processes.
The Regulations generally apply to package holidays lasting more than 24 hours or including overnight accommodation.
Certain separately booked travel services may qualify as linked travel arrangements, which receive more limited protection than package holidays.
If you book only a flight, you are not covered by the Package Travel Regulations for that booking. However, you may still be protected by UK261 or EU261, depending on your flight route and airline.