Travel agents warned over ATOL

Travel advice: If your booking a holiday package, ask who its with and is it bonded.

Changes in consumer protection rules, together with legal guidance issued in early 2008 was meant to make it clear when agents are packaging and when they are not.

This is a dynamic package example:

A deal to Spain accommodation is £150 for the week, plus flights of £99 each. So for 2 adults the cost is £150 plus £99 plus £99 = £348 divided by 2 = £174 per person

If travel agents create and sell package holidays on their own behalf, then they are the principal and not just an agent so become liable for any non-performance of that package. Which includes the flights as in the XL collapse.

The CAA (Civil aviation authority) have made it very clear they will Sue agents for the cost of the refunds they have issued..