Advice for Brits if your holiday company goes bust as another firm loses licence

It's been a turbulent year for a number of travel firms. On Monday, it was announced that Great Little Escapes, based in Sandhurst in Berkshire, has ceased as an ATOL holder. The Civil Aviation Authority predicted that 141 customers had bookings impacted as a result.
Jetline Travel, a London-based company established in 2000 and parent company of Jetline Cruise, ceased trading as an ATOL holder in March. Now it has been taken into administration.
While a few hundred customers were impacted by JetLine and Great Little Escapes' troubles, far bigger firms have previously folded, which has had much more significant consequences.
In 2019, Thomas Cook, the world's oldest travel firm, collapsed, stranding hundreds of thousands of holidaymakers around the globe and sparking the largest peacetime repatriation effort in British history. The firm ran hotels, resorts and airlines for 19 million people a year in 16 countries. It had 600,000 people abroad when it went under, forcing governments and insurance companies to coordinate a huge rescue operation.
Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com
In 2010 British tour operator sun4u collapsed, leaving approximately 1,200 customers stuck abroad.
If you find out a company you have booked all or part of your holiday has gone bust or is facing an uncertain future, here is what you should do.
Get your phone out
As soon as you hear that your airline or holiday company has gone bust, you should sit down with your phone and start making calls.
If you booked with a travel agent, call them first. There's a good chance that your trip will be protected if you did book through a travel agent, or that they can help you rearrange the impacted part of your trip.
If you can't contact the travel company, go directly to your airline and accommodation provider to check they have your booking and that your payment has been made. If the booking is there, you should be fine to proceed with your holiday.
Check your paperwork
If you can't find out if your booking is still in place, and you can't contact your travel firm because they have ceases operator, then check your paperwork.
If the company you were travelling with was ABTA or ATOL-protected, then you should be okay. ABTA protection offers tavellers financial protection if a holiday company goes bust. The Association of British Travel Agents represents travel agents and tour operators that sell over £37 billion worth of holidays, so there's a good chance that yours is among them.
The Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) has been protecting people booking package holidays since 1973, and by law every UK travel company that sells holidays and flights is required to hold such a licence. You can apply to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for a full refund if your firm goes bust before you travel, and the CAA will arrange to get you home if you're on holiday when it does.
Good travel insurance may be able to help you out and offer additional assistance on top of what ATOL and ABTA can, but make sure to read the small print.
If you haven't got travel insurance in place at the point when your holiday company goes bust, your credit card company may be able to step in. If you paid more than £100 for your holiday or flights and booked directly with the holiday company or airline, and paid by credit card, you may be able to claim through the Mastercard and Visa Chargeback scheme.
Card providers may reverse a transaction on your debit card, giving you your money back, if you ask them nicely.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Edinburgh Live

20 minutes ago

• Edinburgh Live

Edinburgh to Qatar flyers face diversions after country suddenly closes airspace

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Get the latest Edinburgh Live breaking news on WhatsApp Edinburgh passengers flying to Doha could see their flights diverted as escalating tensions cause chaos across the Middle East. Qatar has temporarily closed its airspace after Iran threatened retaliatory strikes against the US in the region. Flight QR030 is currently mid-flight after it left the Scottish capital at 3.10pm on Monday June 23 with the Qatar Airways website stating the plane is still due to touch down at 12.35am at Hamad International Airport. No update has been given on whether the service will be diverted. US forces struck nuclear sites across Iran, including their premier Fordow enrichment plant. Tensions have been rising since Israel decided to launch missiles at the Gulf state on June 12. Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sentstraight to your messages. In a statement posted to social media on Monday, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: "Qatari authorities announce the temporary suspension of air traffic in the country's airspace, in order to ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors." Qatar Airways has been contacted for comment on the impact to its Edinburgh operations. Airlines are reviewing routes across the region, with some services rerouted or diverted mid-air. Sign up for Edinburgh Live newsletters for more headlines straight to your inbox It comes just hours after the Foreign Office advised British nationals in Qatar to "shelter in place" following a US security alert. The UK Foreign Office is advising against all travel to Iran and urges British nationals in the region to follow local guidance.

Western Telegraph

44 minutes ago

• Western Telegraph

Qatar temporarily closes airspace amid rising tensions in Middle East

The move comes after US forces struck three nuclear sites in Iran, prompting Tehran to launch a barrage of retaliatory ballistic missiles against Israel. In a statement posted to social media on Monday, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: 'Qatari authorities announce the temporary suspension of air traffic in the country's airspace, in order to ensure the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors.' Qatar Airways has been contacted for comment on the impact to its operations. Airlines are reviewing routes across the region, with some services rerouted or diverted mid-air. Following a US security alert for US nationals in Qatar, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that British nationals in Qatar shelter in place until further notice Foreign Office It comes just hours after the Foreign Office advised British nationals in Qatar to 'shelter in place' following a US security alert. The UK Foreign Office is advising against all travel to Iran and urges British nationals in the region to follow local guidance. It has also updated its travel advice for Qatar, warning British nationals to shelter in place 'out of an abundance of caution' following a US security alert in the country. In updated guidance, it said: 'Following a US security alert for US nationals in Qatar, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend that British nationals in Qatar shelter in place until further notice. 'Follow instructions from local authorities. 'The FCDO is in contact with local authorities and international partners, and will provide further updates as the situation develops.' Qatar is home to Al Udeid airbase, the largest US military installation in the Middle East, where around 8,000 American personnel are based, according to the US State Department. The base also hosts British forces. No. 83 Expeditionary Air Group, part of the Royal Air Force, is headquartered at Al Udeid and leads UK air operations in the region. On Monday, flight-tracking data from Flightradar24 showed a Qatar Airways service from Gatwick to Doha make a sharp diversion shortly before entering Qatari airspace.

Daily Mirror

2 hours ago

• Daily Mirror

Travellers ditch beach holidays for stunning 'cooler' locations

The trend for 'coolcations' has seen holidaymakers shun beach resorts in favour of destinations with less tourists this time of year As the summer holidays approach, folks are gearing up to flock to sunny coastal resorts or enjoy a UK seaside staycation. But, some are bucking the trend and opting for chillier locales as soon as the British heat kicks in. The travel scene's seen a real shake-up recently with 'coolcation' destinations gaining steam among Europeans looking to dodge the scorching sun. Google's been ablaze with a whopping 624% surge in searches for these cooler getaways this year. ‌ Inghams Walking has delved deep, scrutinising almost 100 spots across Europe to reveal where the cool crowd will head come 2025. ‌ Inghams Walking's Head of rambling, Laura Mason, chimed in: "While countries like Greece and Spain have offered holidaymakers a chance to soak up the sun and get some much-needed Vitamin D, the heatwaves rippling across Europe in the past couple of years have undoubtedly shifted travellers to alternative travel for their summer breaks. "Coolcations allow holidaymakers to foster a deeper connection with nature, often prioritising exploring the outdoors and personal wellbeing, and we hope our findings inspire those looking to mix up their typical travel this summer." Iceland's Akureyri, fondly referred to as the 'Capital of the North', tops the chart as the most popular 'coolcation' hotspot. Inghams experts have revealed a staggering 264.13% surge in interest for Akureyri as travellers seek cooler climes for their summer holidays. This idyllic city, with its mild summer temperatures of 10-12°C, boasts the northernmost botanical garden in the world, an eye-catching church by the architect of Reykjavik's famed Hallgrímskirkja, and some of Iceland's finest whale-watching excursions," reports the Express. ‌ Tisvilde, known as the 'Danish Riviera', is next on the list, offering tourists the perfect mix of urban exploration and relaxed coastal vibes. Experts at Inghams extol Tisvilde's virtues: "Tisvilde is rich in culture and has several palaces and castles, charming colourful beach houses, miles of sandy beaches, and restaurants serving fresh catches from the surrounding waters." With average summer temperatures ranging from 19 to 21°C, Tisvilde provides a warm yet comfortable beach experience, avoiding the intense heat found in more traditional European destinations. From seaside towns on Iceland's 'Arctic Coast Way' to unspoilt and rugged landscapes in the Scottish Highlands, there are plenty of choices for those looking for the perfectly cool getaway. Popular 'coolcation' destinations: Akureyri, Iceland Tisvilde, Denmark Nuuk, Greenland Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy Lahemaa National Park, Estonia Lucerne, Switzerland Malmö, Sweden Arlberg, Austria Belgian Riviera, Belgium Ghent, Belgium Kraków, Poland Dolomites, Italy Glen Coe, Scotland Montreux, Switzerland Kranjska Gora, Slovenia Galway, Ireland Bern, Switzerland Schaan, Liechtenstein Alpach, Austria Gdańsk, Poland