Why book through a travel agent?
or
what ‘ATOL and ABTA’ really means (and why you need them)
With the recent demise of Thomas Cook, you’ve probably heard a lot about ATOL and ABTA protection on the news. They are both important, but what does ATOL and ABTA actually mean and why do you need them?
ATOL
ATOL stands for Air Travel Organiser’s Licence. Set up in 1973, the scheme is run by the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority and protects around 20 million travellers every year. We pay a contribution into the scheme for everyone who books a package with us that includes both flights and accommodation. It means that, in the unlikely event of Arctic Direct (or the airlines we use) going out of business you would be flown home from your holiday and not left stranded. If it happened before you travelled, then you would be entitled to a refund or a replacement holiday. It only applies to flight-inclusive packages (so if you book your own flights then you are not covered by this scheme). When you book your trip, we will send you an ATOL certificate so you can see what is protected.
ABTA
ABTA also offers financial protection, but its main purpose is to maintain standards among its members and offer consumer advice. The Association of British Travel Agents) is the UK’s largest travel association and, as a member, you have the reassurance that we abide by their very strict professional code of conduct. The guidelines cover things like the way we advertise, our terms and conditions, and how we handle any complaints. They can also act as a go-between to help resolve any issues.
So, if something happened while you were away and you did not feel that we resolved things to your satisfaction, then you could also speak to ABTA. As members of ABTA (and to ensure our compliance with The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements 2018), there is some information we need to provide you with before you enter into a contract with us. You can also find this information in our terms and conditions and in your quotation from us. We will ask you to confirm that you have read it before you book.
FAQ’s
What if I book my own holiday without using a travel agent?
If you book your own flights and accommodation, then you will not have any protection if your airline goes out of business or if you have an issue with your hotel or any other supplier. By booking through Arctic Direct you will be fully covered under both schemes.
Do I still need travel insurance?
Yes. ABTA and ATOL will help you if anything happens to Arctic Direct or our suppliers but they aren’t designed to cover anything else. Please take out a suitable travel insurance policy as soon as you book your trip. If you are unable to travel because of an illness, for example, or have to come home early due to a family emergency you could be left with large bills to pay.
As insurance is a regulated product, we aren’t able to offer any advice on the best policy to meet your needs but check that it covers winter sports if you are planning to take part in activities such as snowmobiling.
What other benefits do you offer?
There are lots of other benefits to booking through us:
- Years of experience and expertise
- Staff have been to 99% of the destinations we offer (we’ve only not been to the North Pole!)
- Great relationships with resorts and suppliers
- Amazing bespoke holidays if you fancy something a bit different
- Up to date information on new resorts, excursions and late availability
- You don’t have to pay the full balance as soon as you book (unless you’re taking a last-minute break)
- Pay in instalments at no extra charge
- You can save around £150 on international currency charges
- We offer exclusive added extras – at some of our resorts we’ll give you half board for the same price as bed and breakfast
How can I find out more?
To find out more about ATOL and ABTA you can visit their websites.
Our membership numbers are as follows:
ATOL: 9030 ABTA: Y6428
For more information about any of our amazing trips please get in touch sales@arcticdirect.co.uk or call 01793 939035.
Read more on why you should book through a travel agent on our blog post.
