Clients booking late despite warnings Juliet Dennis


Travel agents have reported a renewed trend for “late, late bookings” despite warning clients to book ahead for summer amid predictions of fewer peak season deals this year. The reports came as fears grow


for family sales in the possible absence of traditional discounting in the summer lates market. Hays Travel chief operating


officer Jonathon Woodall-Johnston said: “Demand for lates is there – particularly with couples booking to travel in eight to 12 weeks’ time [but] the family market is still not where we would expect it to be at this point in the year.”


Seaside Travel cited ‘late lates’ as


popular but said it continued to urge clients to “get booked now” to avoid future price increases. “We’re focused on staying positive


and getting the message out that booking on the high street is the way forward,” said head of business and commercial Paula Gleeson. Independent Travel Experts


managing director Kai-Yin Knapp said: “The lates travel market is performing strongly, with 20% of month-to-date bookings scheduled for travel within the same month.” She cited a “small number of


members” raising concerns around pricing ahead of the summer lates market but said suppliers had already helped convert current sales


LifeLine ‘busier than ever’ as war fuels cost-of-living crisis


Samantha Mayling


Abta charity LifeLine is “busier than ever” due to a surge of applicants needing help because of crises prompted by the Middle East conflict. The charity also reported more


applications from industry employees coping with serious health conditions. Director Trudie Clements said:


“The Middle East crisis is an issue [and so are] the cost of living and energy bills. We’ve already had applications for support for heating oil. People are struggling. I don’t think we’ve ever been quite this busy. “So far this year we’ve had 60-plus


4 9 APRIL 2026


applications. [That is] a lot of people in a short space of time.” Commenting on health issues,


she said: “Over the last month, sadly, we’ve had several people contact us who have had cancer diagnoses. “We are helping one pay his


mortgage for five months until he has surgery for a benign brain tumour. “We also had a request for a


disability aid for somebody who needs support with limited mobility.” Aside from the Gulf crisis and


health problems, LifeLine is still helping people cope with increasing living costs – paying for essentials, such as food, bills and appliances. “Furniture and appliance poverty


We’re encouraging


clients to book sooner as availability and pricing later in summer are not guaranteed


by “extending discount codes”. Advantage Travel Partnership


head of business development David Moon said families had already been put off by higher prices early in the year, while budgets continued to be squeezed by cost-of-living pressures. He said some prices for early May


had come down but remained “on the high side” for half-term. Agents said they were warning


customers there may not be a glut of cut-price deals in June. Experience It Now director


Richard Light noted: “Where customers have fixed dates, we’re encouraging them to book sooner as availability and pricing later in summer are not guaranteed.” Premier Travel managing director


Paul Waters said: “We’re advising customers that this summer may not follow the traditional lates market pattern. With capacity constraints and ongoing cost pressures, including fuel, availability could become more limited rather than significantly cheaper closer to departure.” Shevaun Joy, director of


Destination, said agents may have to “work a bit harder” to convert sales.


Trudie Clements


Rachel O’Reilly


is a very real thing in the UK, and we get lots of people coming to us for that,” said Clements. “Lots of people manage day to


day. When you throw in a curve ball – it could be sickness or caring for somebody – then manageable situations become unmanageable.” LifeLine also provides people


with debt and housing advice through Citizens Advice Manchester, and mental health and wellbeing support from the Centre for Crisis Psychology. According to Citizens Advice, the


‘indirect value’ of services provided via LifeLine based on benefits to individuals, the state and wider


society has exceeded £190,000 in the past two years, which Clements described as “life-changing”, adding: “The most important thing is to remind people we are here to support them. We want to spread the word so more people know about us.” Barrhead Travel is working closely


with the charity, holding focus groups and asking for staff feedback at a town hall event. Trustee Rachel O’Reilly, Dertour


UK communications director, said her company participates in the £2-per-employee donation scheme and features LifeLine in its learning


and development intranet platform. i For more, visit abtalifeline.org.uk


travelweekly.co.uk


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