Holiday Protection: Plans for ATOL Certificates Seek to Reassure Consumers
Plans for the introduction of an ”ATOL certificate” have been outlined by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) at the 2010 ABTA Travel Convention this week, currently taking place in Malta.
The idea is that each certificate would be sent automatically to every customer booking an ATOL protected holiday, outlining exactly what is covered and that they are protected should the tour operator go bust for example. The plans have been announced against a backdrop of planned ATOL reform, seeking to ensure the consumer is better informed and aware of whether their holiday is protected or not.
Currently the system is, in my view, confusing for most holidaymakers when booking a holiday, leaving them unsure as to whether they are financially protected. More and more holidaymakers seem to be forced to rely on credit cards (if spending over £100) when booking their last minute holidays to offer protection, in the midst of the confusion over ATOL protection.
Each holidaymaker would receive a certificate once their holiday is booked, outlining the protection on their holiday in a clear concise manner. The timings and details of the proposed ATOL certificate system is as yet unconfirmed as the CAA wants to collect valuable industry feedback on the scheme before rolling out the scheme.
The idea has been on the whole welcomed by the Travel Industry at the ABTA Travel Convention this week.
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