Posts Tagged ‘ ATOL ’

In July, new regulations come into being which will provide greater protection to many but not all holidaymakers.

The time has come for air passengers to be treated like those who buy holidays and for them to be provided with protection.

From research conducted by ATOL (which I mentioned last Saturday,) it appears that Londoners are less likely that people from other parts of the UK to holiday in Spain.

This week is National Consumer Week, a week in which there is supposed to be publicity of consumer issues. So far, all I have seen is a warning about automatic renewal memberships such as those employed by some gym clubs. News about consumer issues in the travel industry haven’t come to the fore but the week is young and there is still time. Although EU261 is a European Union rule enabling a person to claim if their flight is delayed or cancelled, the British government
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Greater protection for air passengers, Ryanair’s baggage policy and new museum about dogs occupy some of Adrian’s thoughts this week.

Update: 3/10/2017. Yesterday 12,000 people were returned to the UK on planes chartered by the CAA. A similar number are expected today. Most returning passengers say the systems for getting holidaymakers back home is working.

The government announced that there will be a Travel Protection Bill which, it says, will improve protection for holidaymakers by updating the UK’s financial protection scheme for holidays.

Here is a summary of what you can do before you consider buying and what to do if the service or product you buy is not what you consider you have bought.

The new year has stared as the old one ended; there is a planned strike at BA, shootings – this time at Fort Lauderdale – but cruise companies may issue medallions in the future to record what you do on board.

As people book, they should be aware that this is also the time that fraudsters try to part money from our wallets.

I’m in two minds about Monarch. Should I book a flight or not?

This has been the biggest holiday collapse for some time yet the mainstream media hasn’t given it much attention especially since the company was not ATOL bonded.

As the holiday booking season moves into full gear, the scammers, the fraudsters and the less than honest will start their fun and games as well.

You can tell the Christmas holiday period is over when the summer holiday ads start appearing. ABTA is playing its part again by plugging its members

Some of the less well publicised events happening this bank holiday weekend and next week attract Adrian’s attention this week.

The Civil Aviation Authority – CAA – expects that two million of us will book holidays in January. But will our holidays be protected if the tour operator goes bust?

From today ATOL certificates are handed out to anyone booking ATOL protected holidays. The short answer to the question about what happens if you don’t given a certificate by your travel agent is that you probably aren’t covered in case of a problem. But ask and check.

Last Monday the new regulations for bonding came into force. Now a report from MP’s on the Transport Select Committee welcomes what has been introduced but says it doesn’t go far enough. In fact, in some places, the report is very critical of the government.

Tthe new user-friendly pages from the CAA provide advice before and during your flight as well as what to do if something isn’t up to scratch!

The familiar slogan goes, “Don’t just book it, Thomas Cook it.” Regardless of what you think of the viability of Thomas Cook – or even TUI or any other ATOL bonded travel company- you can still book confident in the fact that your money, if not your holiday, is as protected as it could be.

One of the worst kept secrets was finally let out of the bag today when the Department of Transport published its thoughts on the future of ATOL, the scheme which protects holidaymakers from their suppliers going bust and leaving them stranded either before or during their holiday.

For longer than I care to remember, CD-Traveller has covered complaints, suggestions, conversations and proposals about reform the bonding system we have in place to help those who, through no fault of their own, are left in the wet and sticky when their tour operator or holiday company goes bust.

Yesterday the transport minister, Theresa Villiers, announced reforms to the way holidays are bonded. Or rather she announced what the government proposed to do subject to consultation. After that, and provided there aren’t suggestions, watered down ideas or whatever, the legislation will come in until the end of the year.

Barely a week into the new year and we have our first travel company collapse. Diamond Holidays of Swansea have collapsed after over 40 years in business. Don’t get confused. There are 2 other similarly named companies and they are completely unaffected. It is only the company based in Swansea that has gone into administration. Already though, I have heard of two companies who have expressed interest in buying them. It is early in the year for any tour operators to go bust; they normally last through this key booking period to see how sales go so this is unusual. If you have holidays or day trips booked with them how will you fare since they hold no ATOL bond?

Yesterday CD-Traveller covered the forecasts of ABTA for the coming year. As a change and since everyone else is forecasting (dreaming of what might be might be a better expression), I thought we would as well. Before that, however, let me wish you a happy new year. May 2011 bring all you wish for it because it certainly isn’t going to give me what I should like.
But let’s start with a quick review of the year – or at least from the point-of-view of the traveller.

As you all know by know, there is a bonding system for holidays called ATOL. To remind you, the idea behind it is that if you buy from someone who is ATOL bonded, your holiday should be covered in the event that the tour operator goes bust. You will get your money back (but it might take a while) but not a replacement holiday. The problem with the system is that if you book your accommodation and flight separately you may not be covered.

After the collapse of Blue Skies Destinations, (yesterday) Goldtrail, Flight Options (the owners of Kiss) and Sun4You in almost as many weeks and following on XL, Globespan and Libra, one of the common questions is can I trust my tour operator to still be around when I go on holiday? Who should I book with? Does anyone offer full protection?
As with most things in this world nothing is certain but here are some thoughts.

What is the purpose of an airport regulator?
To make money? To manage the interests of our airports? Or the airlines? To control over-zealous ideas and practices? To make sure passengers fly safely?
I sometimes wonder.
Yesterday the Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond, announced that he was giving additional powers to the Civil Aviation Authority. (CAA) But this time the power is to look out for the passenger. Hammond said, “…the CAA’s primary duty will be to promote the interests of existing and future passengers.”