Hundreds of Australian travellers left out of pocket following the collapse and liquidation of AVG Travels are being offered a financial lifeline by rival online travel agency DealsAway.com, which has launched a “Deposit Rescue” scheme to help affected customers rebook their holidays.
The move comes as AVG Travels customers report cancelled bookings, missing travel documents and delayed communication in the final weeks of the company’s operation, leaving many facing lost deposits and uncertainty around refunds.
Under the scheme, eligible customers can transfer their lost AVG Travels deposit toward a new international holiday package, with DealsAway.com crediting up to 20 per cent of the new trip’s value. A traveller who lost a $1,000 deposit, for example, could receive up to $1,000 offset against a $5,000 DealsAway booking, subject to terms and a minimum booking value of $1,999.
“Travel is built on trust,” a DealsAway.com spokesperson said. “We can’t undo what happened – but we can try to help people move forward.”
To qualify, customers must provide evidence of a cancelled or affected AVG Travels booking, along with proof of payment loss. Each application will be assessed individually.
DealsAway.com, backed by The Global Work & Travel Group and accredited with the Australian Travel Industry Association (ATIA), said the initiative reflects wider concerns about consumer confidence following the collapse.
The agency is also urging travellers to verify accreditation before booking, pay by credit card where possible, and take out comprehensive travel insurance.
