From experience, most travel companies have in their small-print terms & conditions that they can change flight times. It all depends on what you signed-off on when you booked the holiday. However, if you explain everything you have detailed here then you might get a sympathetic hearing, good luck.

You need to read the small print in the back of the brochure, you booked out of.

Depending on whether they regard it as a significant change or not, can determine what rights you have. Significant changes are usually changes of 12 hours or more.

As Pollensa says - good luck

Kath HT Admin

Thank you Pollensa and Kath for your replies................when I have got to the back page on the letter it does give three options, I didn't see this before as I just read the letter and saw red, one option is that we wish to cancel and be refunded, so my mind is a little more at ease regarding that bit. It is just so frustrating though.......................everything was organised around this holiday and now we are going to have to start searching again to try and find something that fits in with what we already had.

Once again, many thanks and thanks for having such a brilliant website.

You should consider a DIY holiday, to Mallorca it's very easy. Book a cheap flight to Palma, they rarely change flight times as they are scheduled flights. Book an apartment online. Book a taxi online. Everything is then in your control.

Get your money back and try DIY. I was frightened first time but would not use a travel agent again. At least you can get flights and hotel to suit you . Good Luck ! Let us know how you get on or want any help or reassurance.

Thanks for the advice.........................I have considered trying to book DIY, but it all seems so daunting. As a first time traveller I have no idea about the best places etc, apart from what I have picked up on here. I have researched Majorca as far as I could and we were really looking forward to going there, unfortunately all the flights that I have found from any N.W airport are early morning which would be impossible for us to make. Could anyone suggest any airlines that I may have missed please??? Once again many thanks to you all.

Have you tried Jet2. They do a flight at 17.15 on the 26th from Leeds Bradford. They also do flights from Manchester and Blackpool but at first glance they seem to be morning flights (could you go the next day and maybe return one day later).

What part of Majorca were you originally booked for (and what hotel)? Booking a hotel room shouldn't be a problem at that time of year once you get your flights arranged. (DIY really isn't much harder than booking a package)

Hiya all.....................many thanks for your replies, finally got the holiday sorted out, my partner has managed to change the week he has off and we are now going on the 12th September, managed to get a better deal at the same hotel and save £100.00 as well.

Although the holiday is sorted I now have another problem to think of and I would appreciate any advice. The problem is that my partner is a diabetic and his insulin will have to come on board with us as we've been told that it freezes if put in with baggage, if we take a doctors' note stating that it is insulin and is for my partners' use we'll be ok to take on board, but it needs to be kept cool otherwise it ends up rendered useless. To get around this we were going to take a cool bag with ice packs, but we cannot now take the ice packs on board (when we arrive we have also got a 90 min coach trip) What I was wondering is if the insulin does go "off" during the trip and we took a prescription for his medication from his doctor over here, would we be able to get his insulin from a chemist over there?? Or would anyone be able to give any tips/advice on what to do in this situation.................apart from saying "forget it and book a week at Blackpool, lol"

You will find that almost all doctors in resorts in Mallorca are private. So I assume they will write a script for you but they and the pharmacist will almost certainly (definitely ?) charge you for it. I'm not sure but I would assume that a script from a UK doctor would not stand up in Mallorca.

Hi

does your fiance have insulin pens? If so insulin pens travel well. I am also insulin dependant and as yet have never had a problem.
As with any prescribed medication, it is advisable to get a note stating personal use from his doctor. He should make sure he takes more insulin than he would normally need for the duration of your holiday, so that if he damages his vials, or it gets too hot, he has a replacement supply (my GP has always acknowledged the need for a bit extra). Also if he test his own blood sugars, to increase testing for the first few days, as many things can affect his control ie heat, humidity food, alcohol etc. just until he gets used to the changes.

He can carry insulin and equipment in his hand luggage, which should be ok at room temp for the duration of the trip, including tranfer to the resort (insulin pens), providing he keeps it out of excessive heat. If he takes extra insulin with him, he can always throw it away if he's worried its no good anymore, but the blood testing will soon tell him if it's not. Some of his supply can go in the hold luggage, but personally I carry all of my supply in hand luggage in case our suitcases go missing. Syringes onboard have never been a problem in the past, although recent events may change that, check with the airline's policy.

On a positive note, please enjoy your holiday, providing your fiance is sensible with his insulin and monitors his sugars then it'll be no different to being at home. If he has any problems, then he can see the doctors there who will give him a prescription he can use. Remember to declare his diabetes on your travel insurance or he may not be able to claim.

Have fun

I checked with my brother-in-law who is on insulin and has travelled to the north of the island several times with his kit (pens), no cooling blocks. He put the kit into the fridge on arrival and had no problems.

The (free) public health services in Mallorca are superb. There is an excellent modern hospital at Palma and many resorts (eg Santa Ponsa) have drop-in centres catering for tourists as well as residents. If you exeperience any problems at all take your medical card (the one that replaced E111) to one of these and you will be treated with great care and courtesy. There should be no difficulty in obtaining your medication.
Alternatively, a private doctor will prescribe but you'll probably pay around 50 euros for the consultation.

On a different note, my understanding is that ANY essential medication may be carried on board and, presumably, whatever means required to keep it in good condition. As someone suggested, a doctor's letter should ensure you overcome any problems.

Many thanks for all your replies, we are looking forward to the holiday a lot more at ease now....................having never travelled abroad before we were a bit dubious over travelling and taking insulin especially with the recent scares. Thanks to all your help and advice we are a lot more confident now. Many, many thanks to you all.

Three weeks tomorrow is when we're off............will let you all know how we've gone on, wish us luck

as mentioned above make sure you take a doctor's letter, i have typed many. make sure letter dated, travel dates and name dob etc on letter. the doctors' i work for do not charge for this, but make an appt. asap as can take up to a week - with all these security scares going on it is a must....

Many thanks Mia, he's going to make an appointment to see his doctor this week.............it's good to know though what the letter should state, I would never have thought about it containing his dob etc, but since you mentioned it it does make sense. Getting really excited now.........can't wait, my youngest daughter is already packed................sunglasses included, lets hope she needs them

Once again, many thanks for your reply.

no probs, obviously make sure it states insulin dependant, name of all meds taking and if you want to take on plane letter could state that he needs to carry medication at all times you will not have a problem with taking on plane then. i'm going myself this saturday for 2 wks to sa coma. can't wait. should be catching up on my sleep now coz probably wont get much when i'm there. taking children and going with a friend so here's to late nights, loads of sun,alcohol and being very lazy and obviously no work he he

Hi Mia....................sorry for delay in responding but I have a fight to get on here with two teenagers in the house. You'll be over there now sunning yourself, hope you're having a great time..............an update when you get back would be lovely.
Have got partners' letter from his doctor (15 quid, what a rip off!!!!) and all ready and packed..................only 11 more sleeps left now