Thousands of British holidaymakers face uncertainty after popular travel firm collapses — are you affected?

The Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) provides support for consumers who have booked a package trip – such as flights and accommodation – when a tour operator goes out of business.
It arranges people already overseas to be flown home and reimburses financial losses suffered by those with future trips.
ATOL was first called on to help consumers in 1974 when Court Line, the UK's second largest tour operator at the time, collapsed, leaving around 35,000 travellers abroad.
It brought 140,000 people back to the UK after Thomas Cook went out of business in September 2019 - the UK's largest peacetime repatriation.
Other major operations include when airline Monarch went bust in October 2017 and when tour operator XL Leisure Group collapsed in September 2008.

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Wales Online

2 days ago

• Wales Online

ATOL protection - what to do if your travel company goes bust

ATOL protection - what to do if your travel company goes bust There are various measures in place to protect consumers Things can go wrong (Image: Liam McBurney/PA ) Berkshire-based travel company Great Little Escapes collapsed earlier this week, leaving thousands of holidaymakers in limbo. When a travel company goes bust, suddenly people who were looking forward to their escape abroad are left facing a confusing and stressful situation. When booking a holiday, the last thing on your mind is the possibility that your airline, hotel, or cruise company could collapse. Unfortunately, it happens - and when it does, the result can be both stressful and expensive. This is where end supplier failure comes into play. ‌ What happens when a travel company goes bust - end supplier failure Chris Payne, compliance expert at Total Travel Protection, explained: 'End supplier failure refers to the insolvency or financial collapse of a travel service provider - such as an airline, hotel, ferry operator, car hire company, or cruise line - that was supposed to deliver a part of your travel plans. If they cease trading, you may be left without the service you paid for." ‌ What to do if your travel firm goes bust The first thing you should do is check if you booked a package holiday - known as ATOL Protected. If you booked a package holiday through a UK travel company and received an ATOL certificate, you're in luck. The ATOL scheme, run by the Civil Aviation Authority, protects you if the travel company or one of its suppliers goes bust. Did it happen before travel? You should get a refund. Already abroad? ATOL will arrange for you to return home. ATOL only applies to air travel packages sold in the UK. Article continues below Did you pay by credit card? Under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, if you paid £100–£30,000 using a UK credit card, the card provider is jointly liable for the failure of the supplier - even if you booked through an intermediary. You can claim a full refund from your card issuer if the service isn't provided due to insolvency. Look for ABTA protection. If you booked land- or sea-based travel (e.g., coach tours, cruises, rail), and the company is an ABTA member, you may be entitled to refunds or alternative arrangements under their protection scheme. ABTA does not cover flight-only bookings. Contact the insolvency practitioner. In cases where ATOL, ABTA, or the Consumer Credit Act doesn't apply, you can contact the administrator or liquidator handling the collapsed supplier's insolvency. They may be organising limited refunds or arrangements. Article continues below What if you're already abroad? Chris said: 'If your end supplier fails while you're away, you should reach out to ATOL or ABTA if applicable. Contact the UK consulate or embassy if you're stranded with no support.' More help and advice can be found at:

The Herald Scotland

3 days ago

• The Herald Scotland

Barrhead Travel story in Glasgow surely offers some lessons

And it was somewhat astonishing to hear the price of a week's holiday in Majorca in 1979 was £50. However, what really hit home as the story of the first 50 years was told was the astute and entrepreneurial decision-making of Barrhead Travel's founder, the late Bill Munro, at various key stages of the development of the business. These included, from Barrhead Travel's earliest days, opening when others were closed, something that was a driver of the establishment of the business in the first place, and Mr Munro's embracing of the internet when it brought major change to the sector. In many ways, it appears Mr Munro built the business by making the right decisions and doing relatively simple things very well indeed. That might sound straightforward enough. However, that is from the position of reflecting on the story of Barrhead Travel from where it is now, having observed the various key stages. What is clear is that Mr Munro had tremendous vision, assessing trends in the sector and reacting shrewdly and at times boldly. The wisdom of the decisions and strategy that paved the way for the creation of what is now a major UK-wide travel agent, from a single shop in Barrhead on the outskirts of Glasgow in 1975, might seem apparent enough with hindsight. However, Mr Munro did not have the benefit of hindsight as he navigated huge changes in the industry. He did just fine without it, achieving a degree of success that is remarkable. Other major events in Barrhead Travel's history - highlighted by president Jacqueline Dobson at last Thursday's dinner – include the responses of the business to the collapse of major package holiday and airline company Thomas Cook and to the coronavirus pandemic. Barrhead Travel has also undergone a change of ownership. It was sold to US-based Travel Leaders Group in 2018, and was by that time one of the UK's biggest travel agents. Barrhead Travel celebrated its 50th birthday at a dinner at Glasgow's Old Fruitmarket last week. (Image: Barrhead Travel) Travel Leaders Group is part of Internova Travel Group, which has its head office in New York. Mr Munro died aged 80 in October 2024. A Barrhead Travel spokesman said then: 'It's been almost 50 years since Bill Munro founded Barrhead Travel. His bold vision fundamentally changed the landscape for high street travel agents across the country. He made a tremendous contribution to the overall travel industry as well as becoming an influential figure within the Scottish business community.' This legacy was plain at Barrhead Travel's 50th birthday dinner, which was attended by the founder's daughter, Sharon Munro, who stepped down as president of the business at the end of 2018. Another legacy which was evident was a focus on people within Barrhead Travel, which employs more than 560 people. Read more While the many opportunities given to young people by the business over years and decades through its apprenticeship approach were highlighted, what was also to the fore was the long service of staff throughout the business, including across the executive team. Far too often in the business world these days, the importance of such experience is overlooked, to the ultimate cost of companies which take such a lamentable view. Ms Dobson highlighted the length of service of many of Barrhead Travel's employees. She said: 'I started my career as an apprentice, and many of my colleagues did too.' Jacqueline Dobson has been with Barrhead Travel for 25 years. (Image: Barrhead Travel) Ms Dobson highlighted the fact that she had been with the business for 25 years. And she emphasised she was 'certainly not alone' in having been with Barrhead Travel for that length of time or longer. The business characterises its own journey as follows: 'Since it was founded in 1975, Barrhead Travel has expanded from a traditional 'bucket and spade' travel agent to a multi-faceted travel group offering bespoke holidays and cruises to all corners of the globe.' And it highlights the fact that 'in addition to its retail network which spans over 90 locations across the UK, the group has a number of specialist divisions including touring and adventure, cruise and USA'. The business has indeed come a long way, and its current US-based owner has backed the continuing expansion of Barrhead Travel. What was notable, however, was Ms Dobson's emphasis last week on how the 'heart of the business' is the same as it was 50 years ago. She said: 'While so much has changed, the heart of the business remains the same. We're here to solve problems, support our people, and ultimately deliver unforgettable holidays. 'Our resilience over the decades has only strengthened our belief in what we do. It's our people, our customers, and our communities that have shaped this journey. Celebrating 50 years is not just about looking back, it's about looking forward with confidence, staying true to our roots while continuing to evolve.' Ms Dobson declared that, as Barrhead Travel looks ahead, 'there are no signs of slowing down, with plans for continued investment and expansion on the high street as well as launching new technology'. She highlighted the fact that 'the business has had a record-breaking year, with January 2025 being the most successful month in its 50-year history'. And Ms Dobson emphasised: 'It believes its founding principles, customer service, innovation, and community are as relevant today as they were in 1975.' It is good to see the founding principles of Mr Munro 50 years ago continue to deliver growth and success for what is such a well-known Scottish business. There seemed to be a genuine warmth in the room last week from the various travel industry partners with which Barrhead Travel works. And Ms Dobson's emphasis of the degree to which the business values its people also came across passionately, in stark contrast to the kind of buzzword bingo you hear on this front from some corporates. Many might have doubted when the internet began to revolutionise travel that businesses like Barrhead Travel would continue to thrive but, while many but certainly not all of its competitors have found the journey more difficult and at times impossible, the operation founded by Mr Munro back in 1975 has gone from strength to strength. Hopefully, Barrhead Travel will continue to prosper and prove resilient through the ups and downs of future decades, and it will have the continued backing of its owner to build on the success achieved over the last 50 years.

Scottish Sun

5 days ago

• Scottish Sun

American Express issues major update on British Airways points change after big overhaul left customers furious

Check below to see if you'll benefit POINT TO IT American Express issues major update on British Airways points change after big overhaul left customers furious Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AMERICAN Express has issued a major update on British Airways points, following the airline's recent overhaul of its loyalty scheme. Thousands of Amex cardholders will soon be able to earn "tier points" through their spending, unlocking elite perks with the airline, according to airline rewards website Head for Points. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Premium Plus cardholders will be able to earn up to 2,500 tier points in a membership year The offer comes after a controversial update to the airline's loyalty scheme earlier this year, which means customers now need to spend more to achieve elite status. Travellers flying with British Airways or its Oneworld partners earn Avios to save on future flights and tier points to determine their BA Club status. The number of tier points you earn in a year decides whether you'll be in Blue, Bronze, Silver, or Gold membership levels. Blue status is given automatically to anyone who joins, but nearly half of the scheme's 13million members hold Bronze status or higher. These higher-tier statuses unlock perks, including complimentary seat selection, priority check-in, additional hold baggage allowance and access to the airline's airport lounges. Before April 1, you earned tier points based on how far you flew. Now, you earn one tier point for every £1 you spend on flights and holiday packages. To achieve higher statuses like Silver, which offers business class lounge access, you now need to spend £7,500 a year - significantly more than before. British Airways Amex cardholders already earn Avios on their spending, but they couldn't earn tier points before April's changes. The standard blue card earns 1 Avios per £1 spent, while the Premium Plus card, costing £300 a year, earns 1.5 Avios per £1. How to safeguard your holiday: A guide to ATOL protection and vetting travel companies However, from today, Premium Plus cardholders are able to earn up to 2,500 tier points in a membership year through their spending. Customers will earn 750 tier points for spending £15,000 on the card. If they spend an extra £5,000 (reaching £20,000), they'll get another 750 tier points. Spending a further £5,000 (a total of £25,000) will earn them an additional 1,000 tier points. Earning 2,500 tier points won't make much of a dent in the 20,000 needed for Gold status, but it's helpful for those aiming for Bronze or Silver. With 2,500 tier points from the Amex card, Bronze members would only need 1,000 more tier points, which can be earned by spending £1,000 directly with British Airways. Customers with the fee-free British Airways Amex Card aren't eligible for this offer. To participate in the offer, you'll need to enrol through the American Express app or website. Upon enrolment, you;ll also receive 500 free tier points automatically. British Airways said that there will be further opportunities to earn tier points using the Premium Plus credit card from April 2026. Meanwhile, customers booking flights with British Airways can enjoy bonus tier points on bookings made until December 31. This offer was originally set to end on February 14 but was extended after customer backlash. For example, you can earn 75 extra tier points for a short-haul economy flight and 150 extra tier points for a long-haul economy flight. To benefit from a tier points bonus, you must register your British Airways Club membership number by visiting Should you stay loyal to BA or look elsewhere? If you fly regularly - especially as part of your job - then the BA Club may still be beneficial for you. But you should never book a flight with BA or an affiliated airline just to earn points if money is tight. If your priority is cutting costs, concentrate solely on finding the lowest ticket price. Platforms like Skyscanner, Google Flights, and Kayak allow you to tailor your search to highlight the most affordable options. You can also convert your unused Avios into Nectar points. These can be redeemed for shopping, used to save 5p per litre on fuel, or even put towards other purchases For example, 500 Nectar points can be exchanged for £2.50 off at retailers like Argos or Sainsbury's.