1/ #refund advice if you’ve booked a Package Holiday and your travel company won’t issue a full cash refund.

This applies if you were given an ATOL certificate when you booked and taken from ATOL’s website
https://www.caa.co.uk/COVID-19/ 

2/ The CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) are stating your holiday is protected under the Package Travel Regulations (PTRs).

“you have the right to request a FULL REFUND of any payments made towards your holiday.”

This does not mean they can charge you a cancellation fee

3/ Your travel company may offer you vouchers to be redeemed against a future booking, however you are entitled to request a FULL CASH REFUND if you do not wish to accept vouchers.

4/ If you are due to leave for a package holiday imminently to a destination where the Foreign Office has advised against travel, under the PTR's you have the right to request a cancellation and choose an alternative package or receive a full refund of any payments you have made

5/ If your booking is ATOL protected, please be aware that the company named on your ATOL certificate, under the “Who is protecting your trip?” section of your ATOL certificate, is responsible for your booking, including any refunds or amendments.

6/ On point 5, this means your travel company has to deal with any refund from the airline, NOT YOU!

7/ Your package holiday will at least consist of a flight and hotel/cruise (maybe transfers/car hire)

Most travel agents will have paid for your flights and it is down to them, NOT YOU, to request a full refund from the airline.

8/ Most travel agents book your hotel through what is called a ‘bedbank’ (a company who sells hotel rooms to a travel agent) or direct with the hotel.

In most circumstances, the travel agent won’t pay the bedbank or hotel until AFTER you return from holiday.

9/ Most bedbanks and hotels have cancelled your hotel room FREE OF CHARGE and will not be charging the travel company.

There is no reason they cannot issue you a FULL CASH REFUND!

10/ Until the law changes, this is the advice every travel company who has issued an ATOL certificate should be following.

11/ If you know anyone who has been affected by not getting a refund or been offered vouchers, please share this thread. #abta #atol #caa #travel #refund #advice

and remember, #StayAtHome #ProtectTheNHS #SaveLives