Stranded XL customers are left with big bills

After tour operator XL announced on Friday that the company was entering into administration and that their fleet of airplanes would be grounded 85,000 people were left stranded abroad.  Those traveling with XL now have to find alternative travel to their homes.  Often this results in a delay leaving their holiday destination which is resulting in big bills for those who were stranded.

One couple stranded by the collapse of XL is the Skillings who were stuck in St. Lucia while looking for alternative flights home.  The couple had already paid for their holiday through XL but was forced to spend an additional £1,000 to stay at their hotel until they found another way home.  

Mark Skillings noted that several other couples were also stranded in St. Lucia after XL’s collapse and when they were presented with the additional hotel bill most have deferred payment.  “That’s where we stand at the minute. We’re a little bit worried about whether there’ll be any sort of retribution by the hotel,” he added.

Adding to the couples problems are poor weather conditions in the Caribbean region which has made flights returning to Britain sparse. 

Over 20,000 stranded XL customers who were covered by Air Travel Organizers Licensing have already returned home.  It is also estimated that another 30,000 customers would return home at the end of their vacations without issue.  Those not covered by ATOL would have to pay a fee but then would be allowed to return on a flight by the Civil Aviation Authority.

www.caa.co.uk

www.xl.com