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Holiday ruined by XL collapse
A GROUP of family and friends from Bridlington have had their hopes of a holiday of a lifetime dashed.
Graphic designer and wedding photographer Shane Atken, 28, of Headlands Close, had booked a holiday to Disney World in Florida in March for himself, wife Kelly, their sons Declan, four, and Bradley, two, his mother and her partner, brother and a friend, and his twin sisters.
The group of 10, who all live in Bridlington, are among at least 200 local people who have fallen victim to the collapse of the XL Leisure Group.
Their booking for their package holiday – which included flights, a villa, car hire and insurance – was through Travel City Direct, a subsidiary of XL Leisure Group which went into administration last Friday, leaving thousands stranded or without a holiday.
Mr Atken said: "I thought with it being such a big company it would be OK.
"I feel disappointed more than anything, but I'm glad we had only paid a deposit. Others that have paid out the full amount could stand to lose thousands.
"We will try and get our money back and see where we go from there.
"I'll be very cautious about booking another holiday with the current economic climate – I don't want to be in this position again two months down the line."
The company, together with Spanish carrier Futura Hoidays which recently filed for bankruptcy, regularly used Humberside Airport.
It blamed rising fuel prices and the current economic downturn.
The XL Leisure Group, which included XL Airways, Excel Aviation, Explorer House, Aspire Holidays, Freedom Flights, The Really Great Holiday Company, Medlife Hotels, Travel City Flights and Kosmar Villa Holidays went into administration last Friday.
Steve Allerston, from Holiday Travel, in Promenade, Bridlington, said the situation was an absolute nightmare for customers.
"At the moment it looks like we have around 200 people who have been affected," he said.
"Unfortunately, that is the nature of the industry and when booking in advance there is always that period of time where there is a risk."
People who booked a package are likely to get their money back, but those who booked through xl.com or an XL call centre are not protected and will not get a refund on their flight.
Mr Allerston also warned consumers who booked flights using a debit card they may have more financial heartache. "If people have used their credit card, they may get their money back, but with Switch, for example, it is more unlikely."
And he added there is likely to be little alternative for consumers still looking to get away because of the current financial climate.
He said: "It is a nightmare and there will be a lot of people who will be left disappointed and because of the credit crunch a lot of the holiday companies do not have much stock left over".
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Weather for Bridlington
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 19 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
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