ABTA and ATOL Protection Explained: What Is Covered and How to Check

ABTA and ATOL are the two main schemes that protect UK holidays if a travel company fails. Which one applies depends on how your holiday is put together. This guide explains what each covers, how to check your own booking, and how Global Travel Worldwide can help.

What is ABTA protection?

ABTA is the UK travel trade association. Package holidays without flights sold by ABTA Members, such as coach, rail, villa and hotel packages, are protected through financial arrangements such as bonds, insurance or trust accounts. If the operator fails before you travel, you can expect a refund. If it fails while you are away, you can expect help to get home. Global Travel Worldwide is an ABTA member. You can look up any company using the member search described in ABTA’s guide to financial protection.

What is ATOL protection?

ATOL, the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing scheme, is run by the UK Civil Aviation Authority. It applies to package holidays that include a flight, and to some flight-only bookings where you are given an ATOL Certificate instead of an e-ticket. It does not apply to airline tickets you buy directly and receive as an e-ticket. If an ATOL holder fails, the scheme can reimburse the ATOL-protected parts of your trip and arrange flights home, depending on the circumstances. ATOL protection is provided through our suppliers.

Do I need ABTA or ATOL protection?

It depends on what you are booking:

• Package holiday with flights: look for ATOL protection and an ATOL Certificate.
• Package holiday without flights: look for a company that is an ABTA Member.
• Flights only: usually not covered by ATOL unless you receive an ATOL Certificate. Ask before you pay.
• Flights and hotels booked separately by you: not automatically protected under either scheme.

How to check your holiday is protected

1. Ask which scheme protects your booking before you pay.
2. For a package with flights, check that you receive an ATOL Certificate naming the ATOL holder. You can check the holder using the checker described in the ATOL guide to what protection means.
3. For a package without flights, check the company on the ABTA member search.
4. Keep your booking confirmation and any certificate. If a company fails, ATOL claims must be made within 12 months of the failure.

What happens if a travel company fails?

If your booking is ATOL protected, you can be helped to stay in your accommodation where possible, be reimbursed for the ATOL-protected parts of your trip, and be brought home by flight depending on the circumstances. If your package without flights is protected through an ABTA Member, you can expect a refund if you have not yet travelled, or help getting home if you are away. The outcome depends on your booking and on the scheme that applies, so keep your documents to hand.

Does protection cost extra?

Any charge relating to protection should be shown in your booking documents. If you are unsure, ask us before you pay and we will explain what applies to your booking.

How Global Travel Worldwide helps

Global Travel Worldwide is an independent travel agency in Wrexham and an ABTA member. ATOL protection is provided through our suppliers. We can tell you which protection applies to a booking before you pay, and we can arrange airport transfers from Wrexham. We offer a 24-hour customer contact line. Our booking conditions set out how our agent booking service works, and you can read more about booking through a local travel agent.

Call us on 01978 350850 or visit us at 171 Chester Road, Wrexham, LL12 8DW.

Common questions

Am I protected if I book flights and hotels separately myself?

Not automatically. Bookings you put together yourself may fall outside both schemes, so check what protection applies before you pay.

Is it worth booking through a travel agent?

Booking through an ABTA Member, or through an agent selling ATOL-protected holidays, can give you financial protection and a point of contact if plans change. What applies depends on how your holiday is put together, so always check your documents.