"Must try harder..."

With so many customers being stranded all over the globe, people were hoping for more from ATOL...

An overhaul of the ATOL passenger protection scheme does not go far enough, according to consumer watchdog Which? Holiday...
A 'flight plus' element is to be suggested in an effort to close the passenger protection loophole when different travel components are booked together with a flight...

Responding to the revamp of the system announced by transport secretary Lord Adonis, the body’s head of research Rochelle Turner said: “The ATOL scheme in its current form provides great protection for anyone taking a package holiday or booking through an ATOL bonded agent...

“But a significant number of people book hotels from direct links on airline websites, or use online travel agents to book their own package, and could be left without the peace of mind that they are protected should something go wrong...

“While it’s great that the Government is taking steps to make the scheme relevant to today’s holidaymaker, we are concerned it doesn’t go far enough to ensure that all travellers are equally protected...

“The proposed ‘flight plus’ category needs clarification to prevent consumers being left open to loopholes which may leave them stranded should something go wrong...”

Flight plus’ measures have been proposed whereby ATOL protection would include all sales of a flight together with another significant element, such as hotel accommodation or car hire...

Which? Holiday said it is aware of a growing trend towards “reverse packaging”, where people are booking hotel accommodation and then booking their flights through a link on the hotel website...

This would not be covered under the proposed changes to the ATOL scheme, the body claims...

The proposals to reform the ATOL scheme are designed to reflect changes in the holiday market and make it easier for those booking holidays to understand whether their trip is covered or not, the Department for Transport said...

Read this full story at http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1139938.php?mpnlog=1&m_id=s~bvs~bm

Barticus.

"In need of protection..."

With so many Brits being stranded around the world thanks to failing airlines, a Government backed committee has looked into what should be done for the future...

ATOL protection should be extended to cover all flights, not just package holidays, the Parliamentary Transport Committee urges...

The committee’s report on the future of aviation calls for the ATOL levy to be increased and extended to include all flights overseas and “not merely package holidays”...

The report says: “We remain concerned that air passengers are not adequately protected from airline collapse...

“As the number of people who book flights over the Internet increases, the number at risk also rises...”

The UK Government should also work with the insurance industry to make it clear to passengers that standard travel insurance does not normally include flights home when an airline collapses...

The committee also calls into question to need for a second runway at Stansted and suggests the Government “reconsider” whether it should be built at Gatwick instead. It supports the Government's decision to approve a third runway at Heathrow...

Read more at http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1139823.php?mpnlog=1&m_id=s~bvs~bm

Barticus.