Although the Le Mans Moto 24 Hours has been postponed until 5th – 6th September, 2020, there is no current indication that other events at Le Mans and/or Spa Francorchamps will be affected by the current Coronavirus outbreak.  However, we are monitoring travel advice updates from the UK Government Foreign Office and NaTHNaC plus the ACO about the events. If there is any significant update, we will let you know.

If the situation changes and FCO issues a travel advisory advising against all but essential travel to a whole country or island or the event is cancelled by the event organisers, customers of ABTA Members who have booked package holidays to that destination for the period that the advice is in force will be entitled to receive suitable alternative arrangements, or where these aren’t available, a full refund of all monies paid to the tour operator. Customers may be able to recover the refund from their travel insurance, but if this is not the case, the tour operator must provide a refund.   Unfortunately you won’t be entitled to any additional compensation, as the reason for the holiday not continuing is outside the control of 1st Tickets Limited.

In the meantime, please do ensure that everyone in your group has adequate travel insurance and a valid European health insurance card (EHIC) as this will allow access to state-provided healthcare in EEA countries, at a reduced cost, or sometimes for free. The EHIC, however, is not an alternative to travel insurance.

You can, of course, choose to cancel your trip at any time, however termination charges as per our Booking Conditions will apply.

Detailed below are some frequently asked questions and useful links to Government, Health and ABTA information.

If there is a significant change to the travel guidelines or an update about the events from the ACO and/or Peter Auto, we will keep you updated.

Brian Sheehan
Managing Director

What constitutes a package?

A package is defined by The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 if you booked your holiday before 1 July 2018, or by The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 if booked after 1 July 2018.

A package must cover a period of at least 24 hours or involve overnight accommodation and is a combination of at least two different types of travel services, which are listed below:

• transport (such as a flight, coach or train but not transfers from an airport)
• accommodation (such as a hotel, villa, apartment or camping)
• car rental
• a tourist service (such as a tour guide or a trip to a historical attraction or general entry tickets to a sporting event) where this is a significant part of the holiday, either because of its value or because it is an essential part of the trip.

What if I have only bought tickets to the event?

If you have purchased only tickets (general entry, paddock, parking, grandstand or helicopter flights) from us or any combination of these without accommodation or transport, then your booking does not constitute a package as defined by the regulations.

However, if we receive a refund for the tickets we have purchased on your behalf from the event organisers, we will then pass the refund onto you.  You will also be offered the opportunity to transfer your booking to the 2021 event (or 2020 for Le Mans Classic ) at 2020 prices as an alternative to having a refund.

For the other elements of your travel arrangements purchased elsewhere you will need to discuss these with the relevant service provider.

What happens if…

• UK Government issues a travel advisory against all but essential travel to whole of France/Belgium
  
  Customers of ABTA Members who have booked package holidays to that destination for the period that the advice is in force will be entitled to receive suitable alternative arrangements, or where these aren’t available, a full refund of all monies paid to the tour operator. Customers may be able to recover the refund from their travel insurance, but if this is not the case, the tour operator must provide a refund.

• Event is cancelled by event organisers
  
  Customers of ABTA Members who have booked package holidays to that destination for the period that the advice is in force will be entitled to receive suitable alternative arrangements, or where these aren’t available, a full refund of all monies paid to the tour operator. Customers may be able to recover the refund from their travel insurance, but if this is not the case, the tour operator must provide a refund.

• Event is postponed by event organisers
  
  All bookings will be transferred to the new dates, event tickets, camping and parking permits will still be valid. We will move any other accommodation to the new dates, but may be subject to availability. Channel crossings will be rescheduled to similar dates and times of the existing booking in line with the rescheduled date but may be subject to variation depending on availability and schedules.If a customer is unable to attend the revised dates they will then be offered the option to transfer their booking to the 2021 event (or 2022 for Le Mans Classic) at 2020 prices or a full refund of monies paid.

• UK Government issues a travel advisory against all but essential travel to specific places in France/Belgium, but not Le Mans and/or Spa Francorchamps
  
  In this case there would be no change to your travel arrangements and you would travel be able to the event

• UK Government issues a travel advisory against all but essential travel to specific places including Le Mans and/or Spa Francorchamps
  
  Customers of ABTA Members who have booked package holidays to that destination for the period that the advice is in force will be entitled to receive suitable alternative arrangements, or where these aren’t available, a full refund of all monies paid to the tour operator. Customers may be able to recover the refund from their travel insurance, but if this is not the case, the tour operator must provide a refund.

• A channel crossing point is closed due to Coronavirus
  
  1st Tickets will aim to source an alternative crossing for customers.  If this is not possible and the holiday is cancelled, 1st Tickets will be obliged to give full refund.

• UK Government FCO advice changes to state that they advise against all but essential travel to France/Belgium whilst at the event
  
  Customers currently in the destination will be advised of the change in travel advice. The 1st Tickets will then make an assessment of the situation to determine whether it is appropriate to return on their original return date or whether it would be necessary to make alternative arrangements.Any alternative holiday arrangements will be at no additional cost to the customer but no further compensation will be payable. If no alternative is available and the customer is repatriated early, no compensation will be payable but a refund of any unused services e.g. accommodation costs; will be repayable where the tour operator is able to recover these from its suppliers.

• There is an outbreak at the event
  
  Customers will need to follow the guidance and direction of the local and national authorities.  If quarantined, then it is not the responsibility of 1st Tickets to cover costs for accommodation and return transport.  However, we do have an obligation to provide assistance with sourcing alternative accommodation and travel arrangements.

• A customer chooses not to travel because of personal concerns regarding the virus, but there are no travel restrictions in place.
  
  You can, of course, choose to cancel your trip at any time, however termination charges as per our Booking Conditions will apply.

As the reason for the holiday not continuing is outside the control of the tour operator, Customers will not be entitled to any additional compensation.

UK Government – Foreign Office
www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice where you can subscribe to travel advice updates on a country by country basis
www.gov.uk/guidance/travel-advice-novel-coronavirus

NaTHNaC
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/news/498/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-update
https://travelhealthpro.org.uk/news/499/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-general-advice-for-travellers

ABTA
https://www.abta.com/news/coronavirus-outbreak – general advice for travellers