HAVE YOU BOUGHT ‘PROTECTION’?!

Flight

Transfer

Accommodation

Package holiday

Money back
(if cancelled before hand)

ABTA

No

Sometimes

Yes

Yes

Yes

ATOL

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

AITO

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

TTA

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Credit Card

Sometimes

Sometimes

Sometimes

Sometimes

Sometimes

ABTA

ATOL

AITO

TTA

CREDIT CARD

What do they stand for?

Association of British Travel Agents

Air Travel Organiser’s Licence

Association of Independent Tour Operators

The Travel Trust Association

N/A

What is it?

ABTA members must:
1.Provide accurate information on holidays
2.Make customers aware of the terms and conditions
3.Give guidance about health requirements, passport and visa requirements and travel insurance
4.Offer advice issued by the Foreign and commonwealth  Office
ABTA members cannot cancel a booking after the date that full payment is due unless for reasons outside their control.
If this happens ABTA members must either offer a refund or alternate  travel arrangements

Protects you from losing money or being stranded abroad
ATOL carries out checks on tour operators and travel organizers it licenses
ATOL providers take part in a financial guarantee scheme which is managed by the Air Travel Trust (ATT) which provides the funds to protect customers should a firm become insolvent.
ATOL is a legal requirement for companies selling flights and holidays

Provide high levels of customer satisfaction on choice, quality and service

Operate well in excess of legal requirements

AITO policy:
Protect the Environment – its flora, fauna and landscapes 
Respect local cultures – traditions, religions and built heritage 
Benefit local communities – both economically and socially 
Conserve natural resources – from office to destination 
Minimise pollution – through noise, waste disposal and congestion

Association used by Operators

Customers’ money is held in a trust account until they return from their holiday. When a satisfied customer returns the money is then released to the operator

The safest way to get protection when booking travel arrangements is to use a credit card

What protection does it offer?

Claims are paid in the event if company failure
If an ABTA tour operator becomes insolvent while a customer is on holiday they can continue as planned
If an ABTA tour operator becomes insolvent before a customers holiday has started customers will be given a refund or alternative travel arrangements
ABTA members can offer customers protection for anything that is not protected by any other scheme

If an ATOL provider becomes insolvent holiday-makers will be able to continue their holiday as planned

All air package holidays and charter flights

Scheduled flights are covered if booked through a consolidator

Offers full protection whether its an air-inclusive package, rail, self drive, coach holiday or accommodation only

Customers will receive full financial cover

The TTA provides financial guarantee by insuring customers’ money up to the value of £11,000

If a TTA travel company collapses customers will be reimbursed or alternative  travel arrangements will be put in place

ATT steps in if  an ATOL bond isn’t enough to look after everyone effected

As long as the transaction bears the name of the company that the customer is booking with the credit card issuer should refund any losses

If tickets are purchased using a credit card and the transaction is over £100 the customers money is protected under the terms of the consumer credit act

Most credit card companies will refund money if an airline becomes insolvent including cost of unused return ticket

other

If a package holiday includes flights the flights will not be covered by ABTA

Make sure payments are going straight to the ATOL holder to ensure financial protection
ATOL licence only covers air based packages sold by the holder
Customers should ask specifically how their booking will be protected

Be aware that this is NOT a travel insurance policy

The Stand Alone Safe Seat Plan will only protect the money that you have paid to a Travel Trust Association member

 You will need to take out a separate travel insurance policy to provide cover for cancellation, medical expenses and lost baggage etc

A customer has to have paid a minimum of £100 to be able to get money back

Credit card will only cover a customer the service they have lost and not other arrangements made separately

Some companies such as EasyJet  charge extra when booking by credit card to try to persuade customers to use debit cards therefore removing protection