Despite rising kerosene prices, the major German travel agencies-Tui, Alltours, and Dertour-have unanimously stated that they will not retroactively raise prices for trips that have already been booked.
However, the situation for future bookings may be different. Christoph Debus, the head of Dertour-Group’s tourism subsidiary Reewe-Touristik, told the “Tagesspiegel” that while kerosene prices are currently ascending, cost increases for planned trips cannot be ruled out if the trend continues.
Generally, travel agencies reserve the right to increase the price of a trip if mounting costs, such as higher fuel expenses, make a booked journey more expensive later on. Nevertheless, any such price increase must be communicated to the customer at least 20 days before the trip starts. Furthermore, if the increase exceeds eight percent, customers have a special right to cancel the trip.
For travelers, the companies sought to reassure the public. Tui spokesperson Aage Dünhaupt told the “Tagesspiegel” that no programs are being cancelled. Similarly, Alltours spokesperson Jens Völmicke emphasized that guests can expect to enjoy their booked summer vacations as planned.
Regarding overall capacity, Debus noted that for the summer and autumn seasons, the supply remains stable. Should any itinerary changes occur due to kerosene shortages, customers will be immediately informed and the agencies will work to find alternative flights-a key benefit of choosing a package tour.