Brits warned mystery travel deals may not be protected and they could lose their holiday if firms collapse – The Sun
BRITS who book mystery travel deals may not be protected if the holiday package firm goes bust.
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has warned travellers to check before booking or risk being left out of pocket.
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Mystery deals can be hugely tempting.
For a low price, you’re entered into a “lottery” for holidays to exotic destinations.
While everyone who buys the deals will get a holiday – which usually includes flights and hotels – they won’t find out where they’re going until the draw.
But the CAA has now warned that not all these package holiday will have consumer protection in place in case they go bust.
In the UK, all travel companies that sell package holidays with flights must hold Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) by law.
This is not the same for non-UK providers, even if they have a UK office.
Travellers are being warned to check whether both the travel company and the holiday is ATOL protected.
It is also worth checking if the holiday is eligible to be ATOL protected, as it only covers flight bookings.
Cruise holidays are not covered under the same scheme.
Andy Cohen, Head of ATOL at the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: “Mystery travel deals are a new and exciting way to see parts of the world you may not have thought to visit.
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“However, part of that mystery should not be whether you will be financially vulnerable.
“Without knowing which company created the package holiday, you may not be able to confirm if your holiday is ATOL protected before purchasing.”
He explained: “The best way to avoid this is to ensure your travel company is ATOL protected and to take out travel insurance straight after booking to cover the rest.”
ATOL is not the same as travel insurance, with the latter still needed for holidays.
When you book a holiday, the ATOL holder or their agent must give you a certificate confirming you are ATOL protected as soon as you hand over any money – including a deposit – for a holiday or flight.
Make sure you obtain and keep all the relevant paperwork in case you need to make a claim.
What does ATOL protected mean?
By law, every UK travel company that sells package holidays and flights is required to hold an ATOL, which stands for Air Travel Organiser’s Licence.
If a travel company with an ATOL ceases trading, the scheme protects customers who had booked holidays with the firm – making sure they don’t get stranded abroad or end up out of pocket.
It’s designed to reassure consumers that their money is safe, and it helps customers if their travel agent goes bust.
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We tried a Mystery Holiday for ourselves – and found ourselves in Rome at the last minute.
Some holiday deals are a bargain for just £99 including flights and hotels.
One deal even lets you be in with a chance for a long-haul destination – with one lucky guy getting a holiday to Dubai.
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