PEOPLE living in certain parts of Britain could end up out of pocket when booking holidays this year.
ATOL protection protects tourists who have booked a package trip that includes a flight. It is separate to travel insurance.
It covers holidaymakers in the event that their tour operator runs into financial problems, allowing their holiday to go ahead as planned.
Furthermore, if those problems happen while people are abroad, they will be brought back home and reimbursed for any extra expenditure incurred replacing ATOL protected parts of their trip.
However, not everyone is covered and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) could remove Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man from the list of ATOL protected destinations.
Travel agent Robert Mackenzie told the BBC that the CAA had “suggested that the ATOL Scheme will not apply to residents of Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of man”.
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That would mean residents from those places wouldn’t be eligible for ATOL protection when booking their holidays.
The CAA has said it will clarify “in due course” who qualifies for the scheme.
In the meantime, Islanders looking to book holidays have been warned that they should find alternative cancellation insurance when booking their holidays to make sure they aren’t caught out.
Travel agent Trisha Handley-Hughes told the BBC it is just something those people will have to deal with.
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She said: “I think it’s fair to say it has caught us out, and it’s come out of the blue, which is disappointing.
“It is what it is and nothing’s going to change that it’s happened, so we now have to focus on dealing with it.”
Without cover residents from the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man could be left hugely out of pocket if there are problems with their tour operators and they aren’t covered.
There are other problems that could cost travellers when booking holidays this year.
Money saving expert Martin Lewis warned people to make sure they are properly insured as soon as they’ve booked their trips, so they can get their money back if there are any problems prior to their departure.
In a weekly newsletter, Martin said: “Each year, heartbreakingly, without fail, in the run-up to summer, someone who’s been diagnosed with cancer or another serious condition that needs long-term treatment tells me they won’t be able to go on their holiday, but the airline or hotel won’t refund them.
“I say, ‘that’s what travel insurance is for’, yet they then tell me they haven’t got around to getting it yet.
“My heart sinks. Half the point of the cover is to protect you if things happen before then that stop you going, so please get it as soon as you book.”
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Meanwhile, these four travel hacks will save money when booking holidays in 2024.
And these are nine things that your travel insurance won’t cover.
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Ryan Gray
