With the weather staying so cold here in the UK, many people often start to think about spring and summer holidays at this time of year.
It can be great to have a change of scene and some sunnier climes to look forward to, but anyone planning to book a trip abroad for 2024 has been hit with a stark warning. New research from the Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing scheme (ATOL) suggests more than half (51%) of consumers are planning to book a 2024 summer holiday in the next few months.
But the UK Civil Aviation Authority wants anyone booking a trip to check the company they're travelling with holds an ATOL – as if it doesn't travellers risk being left "out of pocket".
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UK Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Andrew McConnell told the ECHO: "This year has seen growth in bookings, driving holiday reservations back to pre-pandemic levels, and while unfortunately, we have seen several smaller organisations go out of business this year, ATOL financial protection has provided reassurance by assisting people to get home if they are already abroad or allowing them to make a claim for a refund if they are yet to travel.
“We know from our research that people are already planning their next overseas trip, so before consumers take the holiday plunge, they should use our ‘check for ATOL’ tool to see if their holiday provider holds an ATOL licence.
“By booking an ATOL-protected holiday, they know they can then relax, knowing they won’t be left out of pocket should anything happen to their travel firm.”
You can check any UK travel company's ATOL status using this free online tool.
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