Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you are. Our IATA and ABTA licenses mean that you are protected from the moment you purchase your holiday to the moment you return – although you still need holiday insurance. Your money is 100% safe when you book with us – so you can relax and look forward to your holiday.
Baggage allowance differs depending on the carrier and the type of ticket.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your baggage is within the relevant weight allowance before you travel. Please refer to the website of the particular travel supplier/carrier prior to your departure.
Adequate travel insurance is a condition of your contract us or the supplier in question, as applicable. You must take out a policy of insurance in order to cover you and your party against the cost of cancellation by you; the cost of assistance (including repatriation) in the event of accident or illness; loss of baggage and money; and other expenses. If you fail to travel with adequate insurance cover we will not be liable for any losses in respect of which insurance cover would otherwise have been available.
We can provide general information about the passport and visa requirements for your trip, but this is for guidance only and it remains your responsibility to check the requirements before you travel. Your specific passport and visa requirements, and other immigration requirements are your responsibility and you should confirm these with the relevant Embassies and/or Consulates. Neither we nor the supplier accept any responsibility if you cannot travel because you have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration requirements. Most countries now require passports to be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.
We can provide general information about any health formalities required for your trip but you should check with your own doctor for your specific circumstances.
If you have any special requests (for example dietary requirements, cots or room location), please let us know at the time of booking. We will pass on all such requests to the relevant supplier but we do not guarantee that they will be met and we will have no liability to you if they are not.
Please ensure that you provide us with the correct ages of the children and infants travelling. Any ages provided to us at the point of booking, must be the ages of the children and infants which they will be at the point of travelling.
Infants must be older than two weeks to be permitted to fly and younger than two years on the return date to be classified as an infant.
Depending on the chosen airline and/or your request, infants may not be allocated their own seat nor be entitled to baggage allowance.
All arrival and departure dates and times given are local times, unless otherwise stated.
Tickets are usually sent 14 days prior to departure date.
Electronic tickets, offered by most airlines, allow you to travel without a paper ticket. The ticket is securely saved on the airline’s reservation system.
When you buy e-tickets on this website, you'll receive confirmation of your purchase via e-mail. The e-mail will include your itinerary information and confirmation numbers. You will not receive a paper confirmation, receipt or paper tickets. When you check in for your flight, give the check-in agent your reservation number or printed copy of your itinerary, along with government issued photo identification.
For ticketless airlines you will need to provide your booking reference upon check in.
Please ensure that you and the passengers on whose behalf you made the booking have all the required documentation and information required at check-in.
You must inform us about any cancellation request as soon as possible. If you cancel or amend your booking the supplier may charge the cancellation or amendment charge shown in that supplier’s terms and conditions (which may be 100% of the cost of the travel Arrangements) and this will vary depending on the supplier. In addition, you must also pay us an administration charge per person outlined in the booking terms and conditions.
If you wish to change any part of your booking arrangements after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you must inform as soon as possible. This should be done by the first named person on the booking. Whilst we will do our best to assist, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to meet your requested change. Where we can meet a request, all changes will be subject to payment of an administration fee per person per change outlined in booking terms and conditions as well as any applicable rate changes or extra costs incurred as well as any costs incurred by ourselves and any costs or charges incurred or imposed by any of our suppliers. You should be aware that these costs could increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made and you should contact us as soon as possible. Where we are unable to assist you and you do not wish to proceed with the original booking we will treat this as a cancellation by you. A cancellation fee may be payable. If you are prevented from travelling it may be possible to transfer your booking to another suitable person provided that written notice is given. An administration fee will be charged, details available upon request. Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended after they have been confirmed and any alteration could incur a cancellation charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.
Liability for baggage whilst in the hands of the air or sea carriers is generally governed by international conventions. For claims for missing or damaged baggage you must follow the rules either on the back of your ticket or on the conditions of carriage provided by the relevant airline. You cannot claim any costs for lost luggage back through us or your card issuer.
Check in time allowance varies between each supplier so we recommend that you allow a minimum check-in time of three and a half hours for long-haul flights and two and a half hours for short-haul flights.
Please ensure that you take with you your accommodation voucher or confirmation, which will be sent to you from us by e-mail. Without this documentation you may be unable to access your accommodation. We will e-mail accommodation and hotel vouchers if applicable to you once we have finalised the booking and received all the documentation from the relevant supplier.
Transfers from the airport to your accommodation are not included unless you have pre-booked and paid for transfers at the time you make the booking. If you have booked your flights independently, it is your responsibility to advise us of your itinerary and any changes to your estimated time of arrival/departure. Please note that local taxes and expenses will be payable to your accommodation supplier in resort on check-out.
Can I use another Inspire Travel Card to pay the balance of my holiday?
Unfortunately, no. If you have a Family Fund card then we can only accept one Family Fund card per booking. If you hold an Inspire Travel Card they can be used on new bookings only, and cannot be used to pay the balance of your holiday as per the terms and conditions of the Travel Card.
How do I pay my balance?
You can pay your balance online using the ‘Manage Booking’ section on our website https://www.travelbyinspire.co.uk/welcomeback.php. The date the balance your holiday is due will show on the confirmation you received at the time of booking. Should you have any problems paying the balance of your holiday, you must contact us on 0161 440 6620 (option 2) so we can discuss balance extensions. If you do not pay your balance on time, we may cancel your booking and your deposit is non-refundable.
Can I amend my booking?
This will depend on the supplier your holiday is booked with, and the terms and conditions of that supplier. Please call us on 0161 440 6620 (option 3) if you wish to amend your booking and we can check with the supplier if an amendment is possible. Please note any voluntary amendments will incur amendment fees plus any difference in holiday cost.
I want to amend my holiday, why can it take up to 48 hours?
Many suppliers do not allow amendments on their websites, and we must call the supplier to action any changes, at busy times it can take up to 48 hours for us to call you back.
I no longer feel safe to travel, can I cancel my booking?
Sadly not, unless the FCDO advises against travel to the country you are travelling to.
Please ensure you have adequate travel insurance to cover your trip - call our team if you require travel insurance and we can help.
I have tested positive for Covid-19, can I cancel my booking and get a refund?
If you have a positive PCR result (we cannot accept lateral flow tests) and are unable to travel on your holiday, you must contact us as soon as you receive your PCR results, and we will ask you to email a copy of the results to us. We will speak to your holiday supplier to see if we can amend your booking to a later date, but this is down to individual suppliers’ discretion and may not be possible. You must you take out adequate travel insurance at the time of booking to cover you for cancellation. Please speak to our team about our recommended travel insurance.
Can I make a request on a booking?
Yes, if you would like us to pass a request onto your hotel, please let us know. Please note that requests cannot be guaranteed.
Is baggage included on my booking?
At time of booking, you will have been advised if baggage is included on your flight. Your baggage allowance (if included in your booking) will also show on your Inspire confirmation and on the airline’s website.
When will I receive my travel documents?
Your travel documents will be emailed to you two weeks prior to travel. Some airlines do require online check-in, and failure to do this will allow the airlines to charge you to check-in at the airport. Please ensure you follow the instructions emailed to you at time of booking, which includes a check in step-by-step guide.
I am due to travel today and my PCR test results haven’t come back?
Please contact us as soon as possible if you are unable to make your holiday, we will speak to the airline/supplier to try and amend your booking to a later flight/ferry. However, this is down to the airlines/supplier’s discretion.
You must you take out adequate travel insurance at time of booking to cover you for cancellation. Please speak to our team about our recommended travel insurance.
How long should I be at the airport before travel?
We recommend you check in three hours prior to your flight, you will need to allow extra time at the airport for increased security and for them to check your test results.
Which Terminal do I fly from at the airport?
Please check the website of the airport you are flying from for up-to-date terminal departures. Please also note that due to reduced flying programmes, some airports have made the decision to close some terminals and your flight may not be operating from their usual terminal.
Do I have to wear a face mask on the aeroplane?
Face masks must be worn by everyone aged six years and over at all airports and onboard all flights, even if you're fully vaccinated. If you’re unable to wear a mask, you must let us know in advance so we can notify the airline. If you fail to wear a face mask without us notifying the airline, you may be refused boarding.
Do I have to wear a face mask on holiday?
Many countries require face masks, please see https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to check the restrictions in the country you are travelling to. Unlike the UK, some countries do not have a face mask exemption policy and you do need to abide by local rules.
How do I make a complaint?
If you have a complaint during your holiday, you should contact the hotel reception/holiday representative immediately so the problem can be resolved as quickly as possible. If you discuss the problem with the hotel reception/holiday representative during your stay, it can usually be settled straight away.
If the issue remains unresolved, you must call the 24hr emergency in-resort number if there is one on your accommodation voucher, if the complaint remains unresolved, please call our team on 0161 440 6620 (option 3).
Can I use another Inspire Travel Card to pay the balance of my holiday?
Unfortunately, no. If you have a Family Fund card then we can only accept one Family Fund card per booking. If you hold an Inspire Travel Card they can be used on new bookings only, and cannot be used to pay the balance of your holiday as per the terms and conditions of the Travel Card.
How do I pay my balance?
You can pay your balance online using the ‘Manage Booking’ section on our website https://www.travelbyinspire.co.uk/welcomeback.php. The date the balance your holiday is due will show on the confirmation you received at the time of booking. Should you have any problems paying the balance of your holiday, you must contact us on 0161 440 6620 (option 2) so we can discuss balance extensions. If you do not pay your balance on time, we may cancel your booking and your deposit is non-refundable.
Can I amend my booking?
This will depend on the supplier your holiday is booked with, and the terms and conditions of that supplier. Please call us on 0161 440 6620 (option 3) if you wish to amend your booking and we can check with the supplier if an amendment is possible. Please note any voluntary amendments will incur amendment fees plus any difference in holiday cost.
Can I add extra people onto my booking?
If you have booked a hotel, lodge or holiday park and you would like to add an extra guest on, please check that the extra guests will fit into the unit you have booked, and we can add them on with the supplier. If you would like to add on any extra quests but the maximum occupancy is not big enough for your extra guests, we will need to amend your booking to a larger accommodation.
Can I add pets to my booking?
If you have booked a pet friendly accommodation, we can add pets for you (please note some properties have a maximum pet allowance). You will be charged a fee to add pets.
I want to amend my holiday, why can it take up to 48 hours?
Many suppliers do not allow amendments on their websites, and we must call the supplier to action any changes, at busy times it can take up to 48 hours for us to call you back.
Can I make a request on a booking?
Yes, if you would like us to pass a request onto your accommodation supplier, please let us know. Please note that request cannot be guaranteed.
I no longer feel safe to travel in the UK can I cancel my booking?
Unless the Government announce a lockdown within the UK that prohibits your stay, your booking will go ahead as normal. If you choose not to travel then we can speak to the supplier to try and amend your booking to a later date.
I have tested positive for Covid-19, can I cancel my booking and get a refund?
If you have a positive PCR result (we cannot accept lateral flow tests) and are unable to travel on your holiday, you must contact us as soon as you receive your PCR results, and we will ask you to email a copy of the results to us. We will speak to your holiday supplier to see if we can amend your booking to a later date, but this is down to individual suppliers’ discretion and may not be possible. You must take out adequate travel insurance at the time of booking to cover you for cancellation. Please speak to our team about our recommended travel insurance.
How do I make a complaint?
If you have a complaint during your holiday, you should contact the owner/hotel/park’s reception immediately so the problem can be resolved as quickly as possible. If you discuss the problem with the owner/hotel/park’s reception or their representative during your stay, it can usually be settled straight away. If you cannot contact the owner or their representative, or if the issue remains unresolved, you must call our team on 0161 440 6620 (option 3).
Make sure you check your passport will be valid for your travel dates - new rules apply now that the UK is no longer a member of the EU.
As the UK is no longer a Member of the EU, the following requirements now apply to the British passport holders travelling to most countries in Europe:
- Your passport must be issued less than 10 years before date you enter the country. (check the "date of issue"). Valid for at least three months after the day you plan to leave (check the date of expiry)
- Visit the FCDO travel advice to be sure of the passport rules for the country you're planning to visit
- If you need to renew, do it early - The Passport Office is advising it could take up to 10 weeks to process a passport renewal or application from the UK.
Find detailed guidance an an example of how the rules apply at www.abta.com/passports.