Travel consumer advice

Latest travel consumer advice: Before you book, check out what financial protection is available, in the rare event of an airline or travel company going bust such as Atol cover by the CAA.

As always our consumer advice is, do try and book travel with a Credit card or failing that a visa debit card –

Both will offer consumer protection and the valuable option of – Charge back.

Your level of travel protection will vary depending on whether you have booked a package holiday or made your own arrangements.

Make sure you have asked the right questions before you book.

Package holidays
All companies selling package holidays must offer protection to:

1. Prevent you losing money
2. Help you sort out any practical problems, if they, or the airline you are flying with, go bust.

Top travel advice: Always always pay by credit card, as you are immediately insured against any loss – provided you spend over £100, should your travel agent out tour operator go bust..

Tour operators selling package holidays by air must hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Your invoice from the tour operator will show that you are ATOL-protected. This is an important document.

Keep it safe and take it with you in case you need to prove that you’re covered.

Your rights on a package holiday

If you are abroad on a package holiday and your airline fails, your tour operator will take care of you at no extra expense.

If an airline fails before you travel, your tour operator must offer a replacement holiday or a refund.

If the tour operator fails, and it has an ATOL, the CAA will:

1. get you home if you are already on holiday
2. give you a full refund if you have not travelled

Know your rights when you book

If you book a flight directly with the airline, you will not be covered by ATOL if the airline fails when you are abroad. However, if you wish you can protect yourself when booking by:

• booking Flights that offers protection under ATOL or another scheme – Such as Thomas Cook
• paying by credit card (for sums over £100) or Visa debit card – check what cover your card issuer offers