Question 1

What is SpareHolidays?

Accepted Answer

SpareHolidays is a peer-to-peer marketplace where you can buy and sell unused travel bookings. Whether you have a flight you can't take, a hotel reservation you need to cancel, or travel vouchers you won't use, SpareHolidays lets you sell them to other travelers at a discount.

Question 2

How do I create an account?

Accepted Answer

Click "Get Started" and sign up with your email address or social login (Google, Apple). You can start browsing immediately. To buy or sell, you'll need to complete your profile and add a payment method.

Question 3

Is SpareHolidays free to use?

Accepted Answer

Creating an account and browsing listings is completely free. Buyers pay a 10% service fee at checkout. Sellers pay no commission — you keep 100% of the sale price. The fee covers escrow protection, seller verification, and platform operations.

Question 4

What can I buy or sell on SpareHolidays?

Accepted Answer

You can trade transferable flight bookings, hotel reservations with changeable names, and travel vouchers and credits. All listings must be for legitimate, transferable travel products.

Question 5

How does buying work?

Accepted Answer

Browse listings, find a deal you like, and purchase or make an offer. Your payment is held in escrow. The seller then transfers the booking to your name and uploads proof. Once you verify the transfer, the payment is released to the seller.

Question 6

What is escrow and how does it protect me?

Accepted Answer

Escrow means your payment is held securely by our payment processor (Stripe) until the booking transfer is confirmed. The seller never receives your money until you verify that the booking has been successfully transferred to your name.

Question 7

What if the seller doesn't transfer the booking?

Accepted Answer

If the seller fails to complete the transfer, you can open a dispute. For Premium Protection users, you'll receive an automatic full refund if the seller doesn't respond within 72 hours. Basic Protection users go through our standard dispute resolution process.

Question 8

Can I make an offer instead of buying at the listed price?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Most listings accept offers. You can propose a price and the seller can accept, decline, or counter-offer. Offers expire after 48 hours if the seller doesn't respond.

Question 9

How do I list a booking for sale?

Accepted Answer

Click "Sell Your Booking", select the category (flight, hotel, voucher, or miles), fill in the details, set your price, and upload a screenshot of your booking confirmation. Your listing will be verified automatically.

Question 10

How are sellers verified?

Accepted Answer

Sellers must complete ID verification before their first listing goes live. We also verify booking screenshots to ensure they're genuine, check that details match the listing, and confirm the booking appears transferable. This protects both buyers and sellers from fraud.

Question 11

How do I transfer a booking to the buyer?

Accepted Answer

After a sale, the buyer provides their full name. You then contact your airline, hotel, or provider to change the booking name. Upload a screenshot showing the name change, and the buyer will verify it.

Question 12

When do I get paid?

Accepted Answer

Payment is released from escrow once the buyer confirms the successful transfer. The funds are transferred to your connected Stripe account, typically arriving within 2-3 business days.

Question 13

What are the fees?

Accepted Answer

Buyers pay a 10% service fee on top of the listing price. Sellers pay no commission. Optional Premium Protection costs an additional 3% (min €2, max €50) and is paid by the buyer.

Question 14

What payment methods are accepted?

Accepted Answer

We accept all major credit and debit cards through Stripe. Sellers receive payouts to their connected Stripe account, which can be linked to their bank account.

Question 15

How long does a refund take?

Accepted Answer

Once a dispute is resolved in your favor, the refund is processed immediately. Depending on your bank or card issuer, it may take 5-10 business days to appear on your statement.

Question 16

How do trust scores work?

Accepted Answer

Trust scores are calculated based on your completed transactions, buyer/seller ratings, ID verification status, and account age. Higher trust scores indicate more reliable users.

Question 17

What is ID verification?

Accepted Answer

ID verification uses Stripe Identity to confirm your real identity with a government-issued ID. Verified users get a badge on their profile and higher trust scores, which helps build buyer confidence.

Question 18

How do I report a problem?

Accepted Answer

If you encounter any issues with a transaction, go to your Dashboard and open a dispute. For general safety concerns, contact our support team at support@spareholidays.com.

Question 19

How do I change my profile information?

Accepted Answer

Go to Dashboard > Settings to update your username, avatar, and notification preferences. Email changes are managed through your authentication provider (Google, Apple, or email).

Question 20

Can I delete my account?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Under GDPR and CCPA regulations, you have the right to request account deletion. Contact support@spareholidays.com. Note that transaction records may be retained for legal compliance purposes.

Question 21

What languages does SpareHolidays support?

Accepted Answer

SpareHolidays is available in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German, and Italian. You can switch languages using the language selector in the navigation bar.

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