Life happens and sometimes you get stuck with a non-refundable holiday package that you can’t use.  You are probably wondering if it is possible to transfer it to someone else.  And the good news is that you can!

Selling an unused holiday package on SpareFare is a great way to recover some cash by listing it on our platform.  We connect sellers and buyers in our secure and trusted marketplace to get you the highest price possible!

We’ll go through exactly how to start the process of getting cash for your holiday, and the best hacks to ensure a successful sale. 
 

What Exactly Is A Package Holiday?

Any type of holiday such as a ski trip or beach vacation can be considered a package holiday.  If you buy two or more travel services bundled together, it is considered a package. 

A package holiday technically needs to include one overnight accommodation or be at least 24 hours, and contain two types of travel services, such as:

• Flight or train transportation
• Hotel or lodging accommodations
• Car rental 
• Tour experiences 

When you book a holiday package, you have certain rights covered under the UK Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations of 2018.

What To Check Before Listing Your Holiday For Sale

Before going to list your holiday for sale, here is a quick pre-flight checklist:
 

Transferability

Contrary to popular belief, unused holiday packages can be transferred to a new passenger(s).  Nearly all major holiday providers and travel agents are able to transfer the names of passengers for free or with a modest name change fee. 

If you are unsure, you can contact the company or review the holiday’s terms and conditions to confirm it is indeed transferable.

To complete the name change, simply contact the company and request a name change to the buyer’s name.  Alternatively, most large package holiday providers like TUI or Jet2 will have the capability to transfer the name on their website dashboard in a matter of minutes. 

Documentation

It’s important to have all of the original documentation when you go to sell your holiday. This includes the booking confirmation, flight tickets, and hotel reservations.

SpareFare will need these to validate your holiday package details, but more importantly, you will need this information to successfully transfer your holiday to the new owner. 
 

Pricing Your Package
 

People purchasing unused holidays are looking for a deal.  But that doesn’t mean you need to give your holiday away!  

Check out what other comparable holiday packages are selling for to get a sense of what a fair value is.  Also look at what the current price of your package is if someone were to buy it directly from the provider.

Pro Tip: You can always start your holiday at a higher price to see if there is any interest, and lower it at a later date to attract more attention if needed. 

Keep in mind that the destination, time of year, duration of the holiday, and the time until the departure will impact how much you need to discount your holiday package. The more flexible you are, the faster you can sell it. 
 

How To List Your Package Holiday For Sale

Posting your holiday on SpareFare takes 5 minutes and has a high likelihood of a successful sale, in addition to a fully secure transaction process.  

Here are the steps to sell your package holiday online:
 

1. List your holiday for sale on SpareFare by completing the listing form for “Holidays” found here.
2. After your holiday listing is complete, your offer will be live and you will begin to receive bids on your package which you can either accept or reject.
3. Once you accept a bid on your holiday, we will provide you with the new passenger’s name and information to transfer the holiday to. 
4. After we have validated that the names have been changed, we will provide the holiday details to the buyer. 
5. That is all that is needed!  You will be paid in 10 working days after the transfer of the holiday to the buyer.

Listing unwanted holidays on SpareFare will help recover a big chunk of your money and help someone else get a great deal on their flight.

Tips To Successfully Sell Your Holiday

Now that your holiday package is listed for sale, here are some tips to help you come out with a successful transaction.

Appropriate discount: It goes without saying that the more the holiday price is discounted, the more attractive it will be to buyers.  If you are able to offer at least 30% off, it will put you in a good position for success. But keep in mind that people are inclined to bid what they feel is a good price for them, and you have the option to either accept it or ask for more. 

Communication:  You may start to receive bids pretty quickly after your listing is live, and communicating with potential buyers is highly beneficial.  You can communicate with buyers from your SpareFare dashboard to settle on a final price.  Bidders may also have questions about your listing that you can assist with. 

Provide accurate details:  Be clear about the description of the holiday and everything included.  Highlight added benefits included in the holiday to make it as attractive as possible. If there are any added fees or restrictions, those need to be included so there are no surprises to the buyer down the road.  

Share on social media:  Sharing your SpareFare listing on social media will help get the word out.  If you also tag SpareFare in your posts, we can share it on our account to get more views. 

Security is critical:  Do not share your personal information before completing a transaction.  There might be holidays for sale on Facebook or eBay, but there are no security measures.  SpareFare has a secure end-to-end process to ensure you are protected the entire way. 

Be ready to negotiate: Negotiating is part of the fun!  You might get wide ranging bids. Depending on your holiday, you may need to be flexible to make the sale, especially if there is not much time until the departure date.
 

Popular Package Holiday Providers

Each airline has different name change policies. The most important factor when selling your holiday is to ensure it can be transferred.  Around 90% of holiday travel providers are required to allow name changes so you can sell it on SpareFare. 

Here are some of the most common holiday providers and their name change fees:
 

TUI Holidays

TUI Holidays allows for changes for a flat fee of £25 per person at any time. If you have booked your holiday directly through TUI’s website, login to Manage My Booking dashboard in your TUI account to make changes including: changing the names of the passengers, changing contact details and much more. 
 

Jet2 Holidays

Jet2 Holidays allows you to change the names on your reservations for a £40 fee that is charged per person. All names can be changed on a booking. All changes are subject to the amendment fee, plus any increase in cost. An amendment fee is payable per person and will be disclosed at the time of the change.
 

Love Holidays

Love Holidays allows the name of the person who is travelling for a £25 fee. This way you are likely to recover much more than simply cancelling your booking. For package bookings, Love Holidays requires a notification of 7 days or more for name changes. For flights and hotel accommodations you can change the name of your reservation online at loveholidays.com after paying the name change fee of £25. This change needs to be made 5 days or more before the departure date of your trip.
 

On The Beach Holidays

On The Beach allows you to make several changes to your booking if the suppliers within your holiday package permit the changes. It is important to understand the individual supplier’s policies before making any changes to your booking. The name change fee for On The Beach includes a supplier charge + £30.00 administration fee per person.
 

Thomas Cook Holidays

You will be able to change the name on Thomas Cook holidays under most circumstances. They charge a £25 name change fee to transfer your holiday to a new passenger.  Note that you will need to check the service provider's terms and conditions to ensure it is possible.
 

Reasons To Sell Your Holiday Package

There are several reasons you might get stuck with a non-refundable holiday, and we have heard just about all of the reasons to want to sell them!
 

• Your business trip was cancelled but you purchased non-refundable flights and hotels. 
• You have a family emergency after you book a non-refundable holiday so you can’t go on the trip anymore. 
• You have a scheduling conflict and cannot change the dates or the holiday, but can change the name.
• Your flight was canceled due to a conflict or war in the destination country. 

Ask Us Anything!

If you still have some questions on how to sell your holiday package online, feel free to contact us or message us directly in the chat box at the bottom of the screen. 

SpareFare is the largest marketplace to sell unused holidays, trusted by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.  We provide a secure end-to-end experience to ensure your holiday is sold successfully!
 

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the best way to sell an unused travel package online?

The best way to sell your unused holiday package online is to list it on the SpareFare marketplace.  It is the largest marketplace for non-refundable holidays deals with a secure exchange system you can trust. 

Can I legally transfer my holiday booking to another person?

Yes, most package holidays allow them to be transferred to a new passenger, but there may be a small name change fee to do it. If you don’t know whether your holiday is transferable, check with the travel provider to double check.

Can I cancel my holiday package?

Depending on your travel provider, you may be able to cancel your holiday.  In many cases, there are high fees, and your deposit may not be refundable, so trying to resell it can be a better choice.