Irish Travelers Face Scams and Flight Delays: CCPC Issues Urgent Summer Booking Warning

January is a peak time for booking summer holidays. New research reveals significant consumer risks for Irish travelers. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) issued a warning. This alert focuses on scams, delays, and lack of travel insurance warning.

Consumer Travel Issues in Ireland

CCPC research shows Irish consumers spend an average of €2,473 on foreign holidays. Between May and August last year, 16% of holidaymakers faced issues. Flight delays and reschedules were the most notable problem cited. Younger adults, aged 18–24, were the most affected group, with 29% reporting problems. In 2025, the CCPC helpline received almost 2,700 travel-related contacts.

Reported issues include outright scams and misleading advertisements. One family lost over €4,000 securing a fraudulent villa rental in Ibiza. Another traveler missed a crucial event due to a rescheduled flight. Lost luggage also caused significant disruption to a planned skiing trip.

The Core Aviation Issue: Flight Disruptions

Flight delays and reschedules impact thousands of passengers annually. For Irish travelers, most flights fall under EU air passenger rights. EU Regulation 261/2004 provides strong air travel consumer rights. This regulation mandates compensation for delays over three hours. It also requires airlines to provide care and assistance to passengers.

Compensation amounts can range from €250 to €600 per passenger. However, these rights do not cover all financial losses, such as missed events. Furthermore, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) tracks mishandled baggage. In 2022, 5.57 million bags were mishandled globally, highlighting the risk.

The Insurance Gap and Financial Risk

The CCPC stresses the importance of adequate travel protection. Overall, 30% of Irish holidaymakers traveled without insurance last summer. This figure rises to 48% among travelers under the age of 35. Uninsured travelers face high costs from medical emergencies or lost deposits.

Orla Delargy, Deputy Director of Communications, highlighted the average spend. She warned travelers must "expect the unexpected" when uninsured. Buying insurance late may not cover events like strikes or extreme weather. Package holidaymakers have greater package holiday protection under law. Those who book components separately carry more financial risk.

CCPC's Booking Protection Tips

The CCPC offers essential advice for booking summer holidays safely. This guidance helps consumers avoid Irish holiday booking scams.

• Be wary of unsolicited offers from social media or email.
• Do thorough research; check reviews on trusted platforms.
• Review cancellation and refund policies before committing.
• Pay securely using a credit or debit card, not a bank transfer.

Credit card payments offer additional consumer protection and chargeback options. This is a critical safeguard against fraudulent transactions like the villa scam. Understanding your rights is key to mitigating risks in commercial aviation news and travel. Travelers should familiarize themselves with EU passenger rights via bodies like EASA and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA). For more industry analysis, visit flying.flights.