Sunaddict wrote:

It could be a dynamic package that is a true package, but I don't think Low Cost actually do package their own. Your Atol certificate will tell you whether it's a package or a flight plus.

As long as they have offered you a comparable alternative they have done all they need to. It is up to you whether you accept it. A refund of any difference wouldn't normally happen, even when a package has been booked. The large tour operators pay a small amount of compensation, depending on how long in advance the change is done, but as this isn't a package this won't apply.
Low Cost did pull out of Abta, along with several other companies, and are now part of ATA (Association of Travel Agents).
As they are unlikely to go bust, being an Abta member shouldn't really matter. The financial protection of the flight and accomodation comes via their Atol licence.

.You must understand that it is you who creates your own booking(s) and who organizes it. We do not organize package arrangements of any sort. The consequence is that no booking you make will fall within the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 (as amended).

Aslemma wrote:

But surely in this case the OP did 'create his own booking and organize it' to include Hotel A, whereas it was Lowcost who changed this to Hotel B. I'm probably missing something, but by reference to their stated terms it would appear they are hoist by their own petard. :-?

fwh wrote:

Experience obviously counts when booking some of these holidays. We usually go back to hotels where we have had a good experience these days but I still make a few notes before even looking.

1 - Destination and accommodation (we will have already decided before we start) so any sales pitch is wasted on us - if that hotel is not available then we stop there and then. Go away and think about alternatives never accept the one the agent suggests. With all the holiday review sites it is not difficult.
2 - What dates,and flexibility. We only do day time flights these days so times are important.
3 - 20Kg luggage so we are not caught out as we once were.

Sounds simple but as we know from the complaints aired on here people are only too willing to be sold something rather than buying what they actually want. Cost wise it is probably the largest item of expenditure people make after a house or car so make sure it is the holiday YOU want.

I always tell people to forget the excitement of booking a holiday, which is often the reason people do not read the T&Cs and so end up in a mess, it is no different from buying anything else

fwh

SMa wrote:

Lowcostholidays don't do packages of any sort as their Terms and Conditions make very clear here

http://content.lowcostholidays.com/DataObjects/FlightTermsConditions/File/Lowcostholidays%20Terms%20and%20Conditions%20Flights.pdf

In fact they include the statement

.You must understand that it is you who creates your own booking(s) and who organizes it. We do not organize package arrangements of any sort. The consequence is that no booking you make will fall within the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 (as amended).

SM

SMa wrote:

Aslemma wrote:

But surely in this case the OP did 'create his own booking and organize it' to include Hotel A, whereas it was Lowcost who changed this to Hotel B. I'm probably missing something, but by reference to their stated terms it would appear they are hoist by their own petard. :-?

Aslemma in this situation with companies like Lowcostholidays you create your own booking and organise it direct with the bed supplier and the changes are usually made by them and you have to negotiate with them and/or rely on Lowcostholidays to negotiate with them on your behalf. In such circumstances Lowcostholidays are the messengers not the people who made the decision and their T&Cs cover them for exactly this sort of situation.

SM