Booking Conditions
When you book with AmeriCan & Worldwide Travel ("AWWT") we want you to be satisfied with your holiday. Please read these Booking Conditions and carefully consider the information provided by our staff and in our brochures and on our website. The Booking Conditions set out the terms of the contract between you as the customer and AWWT and our responsibilities to each other. When signing the Booking Form you will be confirming on your own behalf and on behalf of your party that you understand and accept these Booking Conditions and that the arrangements set out in your Itinerary are correct. AWWT offers financial security as a fully bonded member of ATOL (2551) and ABTA(E3558).
Your Financial Protection
When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information from on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong.
We, or the suppliers listed on your ATOL certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable).
If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise), for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums that you have claimed under the ATOL scheme.
Booking your Holiday
When confirming your reservation you should complete the AWWT Booking Form and deliver it to AWWT with a deposit of £300 per person for fly drive itineraries. Activity holidays, coach tours and rail tour deposits vary, so please confirm the deposit required with your consultant. If you are booking your holiday within 10 weeks of the date of travel the full amount of the holiday must be paid at the time of booking.
A contract between you and AWWT shall come into existence when we receive from you the signed Booking Form and either the appropriate deposit or the full amount of the holiday in the case of bookings made within 10 weeks of the date of travel.
Special Requests
If you have a special request for a facility or service not advertised in this brochure (i.e. adjoining rooms, specific bedding types), we shall pass it on to the relevant supplier but we cannot guarantee that it will be met and we have no liability to you if it is not. We cannot accept any booking that is conditional upon special requests being met. Whilst we endeavour to assist with an Airline Seating request, we are unable to confirm or guarantee specific seats. The non-allocation of specific seats prior to, or on the day of departure, is not considered sufficient grounds for the Passenger to amend or cancel their holiday arrangements. Where available, we strongly recommend you utilise the airlines on line check in facility 24 hours prior to departure. This will both save you time at the airport and allow you to pre select your seats.
Payment Deadlines
The full cost of your holiday, less any deposits/prior payments, must be received by AWWT no later than 10 weeks prior to your departure date - NB, some elements of your booking may have an earlier payment deadline, eg. instant-purchase airfare. If AWWT have not received payment by the specified deadline, we reserve the right to cancel your holiday, retain the deposit already paid and apply the cancellation charges set out in the next section, as if the holiday had been cancelled by you.
You can make payment by debit card, cash, cheque (provided we have enough time to clear your cheque), or any major credit card. However payment by credit card will incur a fee of 2% charge.
We endeavour to send final payment reminders, but we cannot guarantee to do so. Please make sure you make a diary note of when the final payment for your holiday is due, as it is your responsibility to ensure that payment deadlines are met.
Cancellations by You
You may cancel your holiday at any time but in doing so you will incur the charges set out below. Cancellations must be made in writing by the person who has signed the Booking Form and will be effective on the day AWWT receive the cancellation notice.
The charges are usually calculated as a percentage of the total holiday cost less insurance premiums which are not refundable in any event. However, certain components of your holiday such as ranches, activities, rail tours etc may incur different charges. Your consultant will advise you of the cancellation charges applicable on request or at the time the cancellation is made.
The charges payable depend on when the notification of cancellation is received by AWWT.
Period before departure Amount of cancellation fee
More than 56 days Deposit
56 - 29 days 50%
28 - 15 days 75%
14 - 08 days 90%
07 - 01 days 100%
Where travel documents have been despatched to you prior to your notice of cancellation, no refunds of monies already paid by you can be made until all the travel documents have been returned to AWWT.
We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance that gives you cover against the loss of your deposit or cancellation charges, including adequate cover for Covid 19.
Changes by You
If you want to change any aspect of your holiday once AWWT have received your signed Booking Form, we will do what we can to make these changes. However, we will ask you to pay an administration charge of £25.00 per person (maximum £100 per booking) per change plus any additional cost we incur in making the alterations in the case of changes requested 10 weeks or more prior to your departure date.
For changes requested within 10 weeks of your departure date (including name changes) you will be advised of the additional charges applicable but in such cases you could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of the cost of your holiday.
Changes by AWWT
On occasions it may be necessary to amend the holiday arrangements set out in your Booking Form and we reserve the right to do so. Most of these changes will be minor. All changes will be notified to you as soon as practicable.
A material change is one that involves a change of your airport of departure (except Gatwick to Heathrow or vice versa), a difference of departure time of more than 12 hours or a significant change in your accommodation.
In the case of a material change you have the option of:
1) Accepting the notified change(s) 2) Accepting an offer of an alternative holiday from AWWT of a comparable standard and price to that originally booked, if available. 3) Cancelling the holiday and receiving a full refund of all monies paid.
Save as set out in the Important Note below, in all cases where a material change occurs compensation will be paid at the rates set out below. These rates are calculated by reference to the period of time before the date of departure that the change is notified.
Compensation per person:
Time Amount
More than 56 days Nil
56 - 14 days £20
14 - 0 days £30
Important Note
AWWT will not pay any compensation in cases where we have to make changes or cancel your holiday through circumstances that are outside of our control, the consequences of which we cannot reasonably prevent including (but not limited to) war or threats of war, riots, civil strife, terrorist activity and its consequences, industrial disputes, natural and nuclear disasters, fire, adverse weather, epidemics or health risks, technical problems with transport, closure or congestion of airports and cancellations or changes of schedules by scheduled airlines.
Cancellation by AWWT
Although it is unlikely, AWWT reserve the right to cancel your holiday but we will not do so within 10 weeks of your date of departure unless it is outside of our control or for one of the reasons set out in the Important Note above or where you have not paid the balance due as set out in the Payment Deadlines section above.
If we have to cancel your holiday, we will notify you as soon as practicable and you will be offered:
1) An alternative holiday from AWWT of a comparable standard and price to that originally booked, if available.
or 2) A full refund of all monies paid.
Price Increases after Booking Beyond our Control
There may be specific reasons (such as an increase in fuel costs), why we may need to increase the cost of your package after booking. If a price increase is required, we will inform you of this no less than 20 days before the start of the package. If increases amount to more than 8% of the package price, you reserve the right to cancel your holiday for a full refund.
Flight Schedules and Delays
Flight departure times and aircraft types are provided by us in good faith but are given for guidance only. Flight departure times can be changed without prior notice and can be affected by several factors including but not limited to, air traffic control and weather conditions.
AWWT does not accept liability, nor will pay compensation for flights delays (both domestic and international) or for changes in aircraft type or airline. The airlines concerned will deal with the consequences of the changes they make in accordance with their own terms and conditions.
AWWT's Liability to You
AWWT accept liability for the part(s) of your holiday arrangements that are fully within our control and for the acts and omissions of our employees acting in the course of their employment.
AWWT use all reasonable endeavours to ensure the competence and financial standing of the suppliers that provide those part(s) of your holiday that comprise travel, catering and accommodation. However, as AWWT have no control over these suppliers or the provision of their services no liability can be accepted for their acts or omissions or those of their employees.
If you have a problem with your holiday you should refer it to the local supplier who should endeavour to deal with your concern. If your issue is not dealt with locally to your satisfaction AWWT will offer you reasonable assistance in pursuing any lawful claim you may have against a supplier of a component of your holiday.
Any dispute that cannot be settled between the parties may be referred to arbitration under a scheme offered by the Association of British Travel Agents. Please refer to your consultant for further details.
Brochure Accuracy
Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the particulars set out in the AWWT brochure, but as we do not control the provision of many of the facilities described we reserve the right to make changes where an advertised facility is withdrawn or changed.
AWWT will inform you of significant changes to facilities at the time of or prior to your booking or prior to your departure as applicable.
Refunds
Travel tickets and vouchers are valid for the advertised period of the holiday and for the route specified and no refund can be made for lost, misused, unused, unendorsed or expired tickets, coupons or vouchers.
Conditions of Carriage
The transport component of your holiday will be subject to the terms and conditions of the relevant carrier and any international conventions applicable.