A grandad was forced to pay TUI £300 to change the date of a family trip to celebrate his 75th birthday.
David O'Brien, from Childwall, planned to travel to Mallorca with his wife Lynda, son Alex O'Brien, daughter Angela Codack, son-in-law Martin Codack and grandson Cameron Codack.
The retired logistics manager had planned the holiday for years, and it was booked before the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic.
The £10,000 dream holiday was set for departure on August 4 this year.
However David had become increasingly anxious about the risks involved, particularly as no date has yet been set for his children and grandchildren to receive a covid vaccine.
While infection rates have dropped in the UK, there have been coronavirus surges across the continent and the family made the decision to move the date.
David said: "Obviously the way the world is at the moment we thought we better re-book as soon as possible, because the hotel we want is a very small hotel. The rooms do go quickly.
"One of the rooms we had for this year was taken but we chose another room, and then the lady from TUI said that will be £300.
"I said what is that for, and she said it was a £50 cancellation fee for each person. I said we are not really cancelling, we are just rebooking, but she said that was the rules.
"She was a very nice lady, don't get me wrong, we didn't have a row or anything, but she just said that was it."
David reluctantly paid the money for fear of losing the hotel, but says he felt increasingly annoyed about the fee in the circumstances of a global pandemic.
He said: "We are pensioners, and it is a lot of money. We saved for a long time. At 75 every year is a bonus and we just wanted to enjoy the holiday.
"It just doesn't feel right to me."
Mr O'Brien said the holiday giants told him if new testing requirements meant travel was not possible then the holiday could be changed - but only 14 days before departure meaning his hotel may end up booked up.
The ECHO approached TUI to ask about Mr O'Brien's experience.
A spokeswoman said: "We’re very sorry that Mr O’Brien is disappointed with his experience with us.
"As his booking does not currently qualify for a free change under the policy we have in place, we’ve explained to him that normal terms and conditions apply."
