ATOL Membership
ATOL stands for Air Travel Organisers License. It is a prerequisite and legal requirement for a UK registered company to be ATOL certified if they’re to sell flights.
The Holiday People acquired their ATOL in September 2020 and must renew through a rigorous annual process.
Our ATOL number is 11740.
ATOL is important because it offers customers various protections including:
- Protection of customers money
- Insolvency protection
- Repatriation
ATOL protected bookings are those which are packages, typically this means bookings with a flight plus other elements such as a hotel or hotel and transfer.
ATOL is managed by the civil aviation authority (CAA). It is the CAA who issue or revoke ATOL certification to travel companies.
As a result of the protections and management of ATOL it does make a difference to customers. Even if you choose not to make your booking with The Holiday People we’d strongly advise you to ensure whoever you book with is ATOL certified.
What is ATOL?
ATOL stands for Air Travel Organisers License. ATOL is a compulsory license holiday providers must acquire if they sell flights.
Is ATOL International?
No. ATOL is a system within the United Kingdom.
What is the purpose of ATOL?
The primary purpose of ATOL is consumer protection.
Every company that acquires an ATOL has bene through a rigorous process in which the businesses validated is examined and tested.
How does ATOL protect customers?
ATOL helps and protects customers in a number of ways:
1. Repatriation.
If you're over seas on an ATOL protected holiday and something happens (like your holiday company stops trading) ATOL is there to repatriate you back to the UK.
2. Financial
If your holiday company goes bust your money is protected with ATOL and you'd get a refund.
3. Company Validity
Acquiring an ATOL is difficult and so companies which acquire an ATOL are seen to be valid and well governed.
What is an ATOL fee?
When you make a booking each passenger will pay an ATOL fee of £2.50. This money goes to the Air Travel Trust (ATT). which is ran by the civil aviation authority (CAA).
The ATT is a reserve of cash for refunds and repatriation costs.
When do ATOLs renew?
Typically each company must renew their ATOL once every 12 months.
What is an ATOL certificate?
An ATOL certificate is a digital document (a PDF) you receive when you make a ATOL protected booking, The certificate is an important document as it validates your ATOL protection and it should be stored somewhere safe.
What makes an ATOL protected booking?
If you book a flight plus accommodation with a single travel firm then you'd be ATOL protected (assuming that company is ATOL protected which it should be if it is selling flights plus hotels).
You may also purchase a flight plus car hire or flight plus cruise.
The key elements which determine if you receive an ATOL certificate or not are:
1. Boking with the same company
2,. Booking a flight plus another element such accommodation or cruise
