Amidst the uncertainty of FTI’s insolvency, travelers are faced with the daunting task of deciding whether their booked trips will continue as planned or if they will need to withdraw from their travel contracts. This decision must be made in the next few days, according to Gregor Kadanka from the Association of Travel Agencies in WKO. Despite this challenge, efforts are being made to rebook customers so they can still go on their trips.
The Austrian Tourist Office has also taken action regarding FTI. They have reached out to customers with FTI bookings in holiday destinations or those scheduled to arrive on Monday and Tuesday. The goal is to offer alternatives and assist customers in the best way possible. However, some FTI customers have been asked by hotels to pay their bills again, causing confusion and frustration.
Andreas Köll from Christophorus Travel, a Tyrolean tour operator, has encountered similar issues with his 200 FTI bookings. He mentioned that hotels in Turkey have given guests ultimatums to pay immediately or leave. This situation underscores the challenges travelers may face, especially outside the EU, where consumer protections may be harder to enforce.
In light of FTI’s bankruptcy, smaller tour operators are seeing an opportunity for growth as TUI plans to capitalize on the situation by offering new packages with freed-up hotels and flights. Niche operators like Christophorus Travel and Rhomberg Journey can specialize in specific regions or types of travel and benefit from this shift in the market.
As customers navigate through this uncertainty caused by FTI’s insolvency, they are advised to be cautious, ask for receipts, and document all communications. The goal is to protect themselves and be able to claim costs from the travel insurance fund. The priority now is to ensure a smooth return journey for those already at their destination, even if it means coming back earlier than planned. With new developments emerging every two hours from FTI, it remains a dynamic situation for both the industry and its customers alike.
Despite these challenges, the industry remains resilient and determined to adapt to changing circumstances while meeting customer needs efficiently. As such
