Welcome to the first in a new six-part series of MyTravelMoney.co.uk features entitled What Happens When Things Go Wrong Abroad.
This week we’re looking at what happens when your tour operator, or the airline you’re flying with, goes out of business while you’re abroad and the importance of making sure they’re ATOL (Air Travel Organisers Licence) protected before you book to prevent being stranded.
Package holiday or independent travel?
First of all, your rights when things go wrong are largely determined by the type of travel you are undertaking. Are you on a package holiday, for example, or did you book everything independently? The good news is that all package holidays MUST be ATOL protected – i.e. they must hold a special licence from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) – to prevent you from losing your hard-earned cash and to take care of the practicalities if an operator goes into administration. Ultimately, it means that if the airline goes bust, the tour operator must organise to get you home safely at no extra cost and if the tour operator goes bust, then the CAA must arrange your free return flights. In order for the CAA to do this, however, you must first make a claim.
Unfortunately, things aren’t quite as simple for independent travellers. If you booked your flights directly with the airline, then your tickets will not be ATOL protected should the carrier go bust while you’re abroad. If you have booked them through an agent which offers ATOL protection, however, then it’s their responsibility to get you home without any added expense. You may also be covered if you have bought the tickets using your credit or Visa debit card and the value is above £100 – it’s best to check what kind of cover is provided, though. Sadly, if you’re delayed by a few days or struggle to arrange a suitable return flight, the onus will still be on you to book and pay for a hotel or rearrange your travel plans. Some airlines offer some goodwill remuneration for stranded passengers which might include meal tickets etc but it’s not always guaranteed.
How do I make sure I’m not left stranded?
The key is to ask lots of questions before you book to make sure you know exactly where you stand should things go wrong. Not only that, but you should be checking that whichever tour operator or airline you book with is ATOL protected by the CAA if you’re embarking on a package holiday. If you’re not certain, ask your travel agent, check on the company’s website, or do a quick search here. You can also check which operators have recently ceased trading here.
The best way to protect yourself as an independent traveller is to take out extra travel insurance which covers these eventualities, pay by credit card wherever you can, or book with an agent which offers ATOL protection.
For more on air passengers’ rights, visit the CAA website.
