THE recent collapse of Thomas Cook has major caused chaos for passengers who are still stuck abroad.
The Civil Aviation Authority has been working hard to get Brits back to the mainland. But what is it they actually do? Here’s the lowdown…
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What is the CAA?
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is responsible for the regulation of aviation safety in the UK.
CAA has now launched Britain’s largest peacetime repatriation to bring home marooned Thomas Cook passengers.
The government and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) launched the largest rescue mission since the Second World War after Thomas Cook collapsed on Monday.
The CAA is providing new flights to return Brits to the UK.
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What does ATOL protection mean?
By law, every UK travel company that sells package holidays and flights is required to hold an Atol certificate, which stands for Air Travel Organiser’s Licence.
If a travel company with an Atol certificate ceases trading, the scheme protects customers who have booked package holidays with the firm, making sure they don’t get stranded abroad or end up out of pocket.
It’s designed to reassure consumers that their money is safe, and it helps customers if their travel agent goes bust – such as All Leisure Holidays ltd.
Atol protection doesn’t apply if you buy your flights directly from your airline.
And flight-only bookings through a travel agent are not always protected under the scheme – so make sure you always ask.
After the airline Monarch collapsed, those who booked a package holiday were Atol protected and were able to get their money back in time.
Primera Air is a Danish-registered airline and is not part of the Civil Aviation Authority’s Atol Protection scheme, which covers only passengers booked on package holidays.
After it collapsed on October 1, 2018, after 14 years of operation, its stranded customers could not claim compensation because of its lack of Atol protection.
Similarly, Wow Air passengers who booked flights with the Icelandic airline would not have been covered unless they booked the flights as part of a package holiday.
How do I know if my holiday is Atol protected?
When you book a holiday, the Atol holder or their agent must give you a certificate confirming you are Atol protected as soon as you hand over any money – including a deposit – for a holiday or flight.
Make sure you obtain and keep all the relevant paperwork in case you need to make a claim.
And the protection only covers British-based firms, so it’s vital to check.
Some travel companies display the Atol logo on their websites even though they don’t offer financial protection.
To check it’s genuine, look for a number on the logo and check it out on the CAA’s website.
You should be wary if the travel provider has no Atol number, or if the number doesn’t have four or five digits.
If you aren’t sure about the website, don’t book through it.
Another key term Brits should be aware of is Abta, which is different from Atol.
While Atol protects flight-based packages, Abta protects everything else such as cruise or self-drive trips.
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