Little-known law means your holiday can increase in price after booking as summer fears continue
The price of your package holiday could still go up even after it's fully booked.
Due to tensions in the Middle East, jet fuel costs continue to rise and travel experts have explained what it could mean for your summer getaway.
Airlines have been putting up prices in recent weeks after the US-Israeli war on Iran disrupted fuel supply through the Strait of Hormuz.
With fears of shortages in the coming weeks, some travellers have tried to book their summer holidays early to avoid rising costs.
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However, under the UK's Package Travel Regulations law, companies are allowed to increase the price of a package holiday by up to eight percent after it's booked.
This includes if there is a major increase in fuel prices, new taxes as the destination, or big currency changes.
Speaking on ITV's Holiday Havoc: Where Should You Go?, Jo Rhodes from consumer group Which? revealed: "The package holiday providers can ask for more money from you even after you've booked.
"Up to eight per cent of what you've paid - anything over that and you have a right to cancel for a full refund."
Rhodes said in a clip shared with the Daily Mail that booking a package could be a safer alternative to a standard holiday because if anything goes wrong 'you're protected by the Package Travel Regulations'.
"Are we going to be safe? Are the kids going to be safe? What if things escalate? What if we get stuck? Being stuck over abroad is petrifying, especially with two young children," she added.
"I did explore the idea of transferring our holiday elsewhere.
"But the flights have all gone up in price, so the holidays have gone up in price.
"So transferring somewhere else is not really an option that we have."
Jet fuel prices increased sharply earlier this year, jumping from about $99 per barrel in late February to as much as $209 in early April, before easing slightly in recent weeks.
Paul Charles, chief executive of travel consultancy the PC Agency, warned that 'we haven't seen the end of it.
"Travelers will be paying more over the coming months," he said.
"You need to be checking your emails and your messages every day, because the airlines themselves are under pressure to cancel flights, maybe for profitability reasons or because there's not enough jet fuel.
"It'll be choppy over the next few weeks. There will be delays, there will be cancellations, and it's not for the faint hearted."
The good news is that many UK airlines have said that they have no plans to hike up the prices.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said the airline is 'well hedged' against fuel prices, while easyJet confirmed it will not add fuel surcharges for summer 2026 bookings.
Jet2 said customers can book with confidence with no extra fuel charges, and TUI has told customers their holiday price is fixed with no fuel surcharges added.
Anish Vij