ATOL protection scheme

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Olympic Holidays has been serving UK holidaymakers for over 50 years and is fully ATOL protected and is a member of ABTA so anyone booking with us is fully protected. ATOL protects you from losing money or being stranded abroad if the tour operator goes out of business. If a company with an ATOL goes out of business, the CAA will refund the people who have not traveled and arrange for people on holiday to fly home. We've created this factsheet to help you get a better understanding of ATOL protection together with the benefits of booking with an ATOL holding and ABTA member travel company such as Olympic Holidays.

What does ATOL stand for?

Air Travel Organisers' Licence (ATOL), which is managed and overseen by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA)

Are Olympic Holidays ATOL holders?

Yes, our ATOL number is 4108. Olympic Holidays is an ATOL holder and therefore your flight inclusive arrangement is fully protected.

  • Under the Package Travel Regulations, package holiday providers are responsible for all services and facilities offered as part of the package holiday.
  • If there is a problem with any of the suppliers involved in the package holiday the provider is responsible for resolving the issue.
  • If the package holiday provider goes out of business before you have travelled the CAA will give a full refund of all money you have paid.
  • If the package holiday provider goes out of business whilst you are on holiday the CAA will arrange for you to complete your holiday and organise your flight home.
  • If an airline fails and you have booked your package holiday with a tour operator, the tour operator will make alternative arrangements so customers can travel on holiday or get home.

Are all types of holidays protected under ATOL?

No, ATOL is only applicable to holidays and flights where the company providing your travel arrangements holds an ATOL. Some holidays, where the flight and accommodation are arranged or sold separately ("dynamically packaged") may not be ATOL protected. Similarly where flights are booked direct with an airline they will not be ATOL protected if the airline should cease trading.

All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services)is listed on it. Please see our booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to the CAA website

What is ATOL Protection?

  • ATOL protection is a scheme that protects consumers booking package holidays against losing their money or being stranded overseas.
  • The CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) does this by carrying out financial checks on tour operators and travel organisers to ensure they are financially able to support the business they do.
  • ATOL licensed companies pay a contribution of £2.50 per passenger to the Air Travel Trust Fund which is administered by the CAA so if a tour operator goes out of business, you will be refunded and if you're abroad they will arrange for you to finish your holiday and fly home.

Can I check if a travel company has ATOL protection?

Yes, you can check if the company holds an ATOL by searching here.

What should I ask to ensure my holiday is ATOL protected?

  • Does the company with which I am booking my holiday stand behind the products it is selling ("act as principal") and will it be responsible for all parts of my holiday?
  • Is the whole holiday that is being booked ATOL protected and will I receive a full refund or be brought home if the holiday company fails?
  • Do I have full rights as a consumer under the Package Travel Regulations if anything goes wrong before or during my holiday?
  • Will I get an ATOL certificate on making my booking covering all services and facilities included in the booking?

What type of bookings are covered under the ATOL protection scheme?

  • Package Holidays including a Flight and Flight Only arrangements booked directly with a tour operator who hold an ATOL licence.
  • Package Holidays and Flights booked through a travel agent with a tour operator holding an ATOL licence.

What type of bookings aren't covered under the ATOL protection scheme?

  • Flights booked directly with an airline.
  • Flights booked directly with scheduled airlines and low cost airlines.
  • If you book from outside the UK, you probably won't be ATOL protected.
  • Bookings where a travel company / travel agent book flights and accommodation from separate suppliers and create a package themselves ("dynamic packaging").

Can I get written confirmation of a company's ATOL protection?

Yes. When you make a booking the tour operator or travel agent should provide you with confirmation and an ATOL certificate that gives the name and ATOL number of the licensed operator you are booked with and specifies exactly what services in your booking are ATOL protected.

What if the travel agent I booked with goes out of business?

If your travel agent is an ABTA travel agent or belongs to one of the associations (for example the Travel Trust Association) and the travel agent goes out of business, your money will be safe and the tour operator your holiday has been booked with will continue to provide your holiday.

What if I booked through a travel agent and the tour operator goes out of business?

You will be protected by ATOL so you will get your money back if this happens before you travel and if you're on holiday you can complete your holiday and the CAA will ensure your flight home.

Are online bookings protected by ATOL?

You are protected as long as the company you are booking with has an ATOL. The "ATOL Protected" logo together with the company's ATOL number should be displayed on the website.

What does ABTA stand for?

Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA)

Does ABTA and ATOL offer the same protection?

No they don't. ATOL is a legal requirement that companies like tour operators must comply with to sell package holidays where a flight is part of the package. ABTA is a travel trade association that requires members to hold an ATOL if a flight is part of the package holiday and takes other steps to ensure that your money is safe. For instance tour operator members of ABTA can take out a bond with ABTA (as Olympic Holidays does) to ensure financial protection of holiday arrangements that do not include a flight and it has other protections in place to protect your money if booking through a travel agent member of ABTA.

I need more information who should I contact?

Visit the ATOL protection website for more information.
Or call the CAA on +44 (0)333 103 6700

ABTA, The Travel Association, visit the ABTA website for more ninformation
Or call ABTA on +44 (0)20 3117 0599

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