Travel firms who sold Michael Jackson tickets will be drawn into what experts believe will be a “messy” process to refund more than £50 million of ticket sales, following Jackson's death yesterday.

Lastminute.com, Superbreak and Thomson Experience were among companies that sold tickets for the 50 dates Jackson had scheduled at London’s O2 Arena.

The brunt of the demand for refunds will hit official ticket seller Ticketmaster, as well as companies such as ticket exchange business seatwave.com.

But thousands of tickets were sold as part of packages by companies including Superbreak, Thomson Experience and lastminute.com.

Superbreak sales director  Ian Mounser said about 500 bookings for the concerts had been sold through agents.

They, and customers who had bought direct from Superbreak, would be able to claim a full refund or transfer the booking to another event, he said.

Customers had booked a hotel and transport to London through Superbreak but bought the concert ticket elsewhere would have the option of paying a cancellation fee or keeping their booking, and having a visit to London anyway.

“We are waiting to see if the O2 makes some form of announcement about what will be filling the dates,” he said.

“We expect many people will still come to London but do something else. West End shows could receive a boost from people who still want to come to London but are looking for alternative entertainment.

Mounser also predicted that hotels in the east of London might suffer as a result of the lost business.

Thomson Experience sold packages of concert tickets and accommodation starting at £209 per person. 

Marketing manager Carol Threlfall spokesman said it would offer full ticket and accommodation refunds, and offer alternative options such as theatre tickets for customers who still wanted to travel to London.
 
Lastminute.com said it was working with the event organisers to keep customers informed.

Tickets sales for the concerts at the 20,000 seat capacity arena have been estimated to be above £50 million, with about 800,000 being sold for up to £75 and 50,000 premium tickets were on sale for up to £1,000.