Fewer holidaymakers to be left high and dry by failed tour operators
Unfortunately, a large percentage of UK holidaymakers travel abroad totally oblivious of what happens if their tour operator or carrier goes bust either before they travel or, worse still, during their actual holiday.
Those who are aware of the ATOL ( Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing ) protection scheme run by the Civil Aviation Authority will obviously take the trouble to find out if their trip is covered or not before they sign on the dotted line. However, far too many people still book without even thinking about who picks up the pieces if things go wrong. The situation has been made far worse since consumers started to shun High Street travel agents who used to point out such pitfalls and began booking online instead.
Travel agents traditionally sold package holidays which, more often than not, were covered by the ATOL scheme but holidaymakers booking online are now assembling their own packages from the same source believing that they all come under the same umbrella.
With so many operators failing in recent years, the government is now insisting that purveyors of such “ Flight –Plus” holidays also include ATOL cover which costs them £2.50 per passenger. This seems a small price to pay for the comfort of knowing that, if your holiday carrier goes under, you will get a full refund enabling you to rebook with someone else or, if you are actually overseas when the failure occurs, you will be flown home at no extra expense.
The expansion of the ATOL scheme is scheduled for April 30th and is estimated to benefit up to 6 million additional holidaymakers flying from the UK annually. However, even this major extension of coverage still leaves quite a gaping hole by not doing anything for individuals who book their own flights and then organise accommodation in a hotel or rented property totally separately.
There are many who would argue that all forms of foreign holiday bookings should be automatically covered even if it is the consumer who ultimately pays.
Becky - About Author:
If you fancy a change in career, why not find out more information about Jobs Aviation.
Article Source:
http://www.articleside.com/career-articles/fewer-holidaymakers-to-be-left-high-and-dry-by-failed-tour-operators.htm
Related Career Articles
Published by Angie Turner on June 16th 2012 | Business
Published by Localjobsites on December 11th 2011 | Career
Published by Sambukhari on June 20th 2012 | Career
Published by Ankur S. on May 21st 2012 | Career
Published by Tobby Heldson on December 7th 2011 | Business
Published by Amit Sachdeva on February 16th 2012 | Business
Published by Nidhu Gupta on November 29th 2011 | Career
Published by Cameron Gray on January 25th 2012 | Career
Published by Healthcare Seeker on July 23rd 2012 | Career
Published by Mike Tyson on July 21st 2012 | Business
Published by Simmie on March 6th 2012 | Career
Published by Shomik Gupta on December 23rd 2011 | Career
Published by Andrul Remand on December 15th 2011 | Career
Published by Healthcare Seeker on March 24th 2012 | Career
Published by Healthcare Seeker on April 7th 2012 | Career
Published by Sambukhari on June 12th 2012 | Career
Published by John Smith on March 15th 2012 | Career
Published by Theeducator on February 22nd 2012 | Career
Published by Churchjobs on April 2nd 2012 | Career
Published by Sambukhari on June 9th 2012 | Career