To think flights should be ATOL protected? Thomas Cook

[ShitFuckBastardBollocks]

Why is it just package holidays? Why not flights?

Booked my first ever family holiday and had no idea about ATOL protection not applying if you bought flights separately to the accommodation.

I got insurance.

Told this insurance does not cover airline bankruptcy/failure.

Called insurance and they said I cannot upgrade to Flight protection insurance because its now a known issue and it won't be valid

So I've spend 2600 on flights and my insurance is wank and I'm not ATOL protected.

So if I fly out and Thomas Cook go under how do I get home? I do not have the money to pay for flight s home

Does this mean I have to just abandon my holiday? :(

Ive been crying all afternoon.

This was supposed to be our first family holiday abroad and its just turned into hell

How did you pay?

I paid through Debit card. My bank said if they go under I can get a charge back.

But I'm more worried that they don't and we fly out then something happens whilst we are away and we can't get home.

The best case scenario is they go under and we get charge back :(

Have a look on MSE.

There’s a whole section on TC flights at the mo.

They should be ABTA covered which should help you.

I think ATOL is for packages only (not 100% on this tho??)

ATOL has always just been for packages which is why some people choose a package. As asked above check how you paid as you may have rights to refunds from credit card companies, not just from the potential administrators.

Read the insurance again in case what you were told is not true and you are covered. Don't just take their word for it - read the policy.

It is possible we tax payers will pay £600m to get everyone home - one of the biggest airlifts in history. I don't thiknw e should as I pay lots of tax and lots of us don't get holidays so I am not sure it is fair we pay for other people's trips but it is possible.

I would probably go if I were in your position but have a look now to see if there are any very very cheap alternative flights home eg £20 at 4am or something to see what alternatives there might be.

What is ABTA?

Do they help you get home if abandoned?

If they go under while you are out there then the government will arrange to get you back again free of charge (although it might be a different time to your original flight)

If they go under whilst you are abroad, you will be flown back. There was a whole item about this on TV this morning with Simon Calder explaining things.

@shit. Check out MSE website. It gives you all the advice on there (and I can’t work a fecking link)

I think it applies to travel agents for both flights and accommodation but booking directly with the airline doesn’t come under it.

It’s a bit shit but wasn’t set up for the likes of reclaiming and EasyJet flight. Maybe it comes under something else but I’m not aware of what that is if it exists at all. Is it not covered by Travel Insurance? Genuine question.

I didn't know that.

To be honest I didn't know much about any of it till I heard they were in difficulties.

I just booked and got insurance.

I've checked and we definitely are not covered.

I don't have the money to get home. I've been paying this holiday off over a year.

The last time this happened (with Monarch) I believe that the government repatriated people who weren’t covered by ATOL. Obviously there is no guarantee but this happened before. ABTA is also an option. Def worth using the credit card in future.

The insurance that covers it is a specific one called SAFI.

I didn't even know about it. Am told I cannot buy that now as its too late.

Should have read the whole thing! It seems your insurance doesn’t cover it which sounds like a shit insurance policy

I was thinking it would be cheaper for the government to bail out Thomas Cook, with support from the CAA. But they're not banks so I don't know how it would work.

ATOL doesn't just cover package holidays so I would suggest you speak to your travel agent and/or ote out how you've arranged your holiday and who with, as things like airline agents, credit cards etc will all relevant.

www.postoffice.co.uk/travel-insurance/airline-goes-bust is a good place to start, as is CAA.

I don't have a credit card.

I can't get one. I know it is useful information but not everyone has the credit available to put 2600 on a credit card.

I saved it for a long time then paid visa debit.

My flight confirmation email states NOT ATOL PROTECTED.

I paid directly on the Thomas Cook website.

The press are trying to say the Govenrment i.e. we tax payers should just cough up £200m as that is cheaper than £600m to fly them home, but there is no legal obligation for us to pay either sum and £600m is a huge amount - biggest in history; also £200m - why should we bail out Thojmas C but not some other company - where doe sit end and also the money is just to take them over into next eyar when they would proably go bust anyway so we would be throwing good money after bad.

Well it’s always too late to buy insurance against something which is known to definitely or likely to happen. That part makes sense. Didn’t think you’d be simultaneously fucked from ATOL and your Travel Insurance policy though. That’s shit

TBH it would be better for us if they did collapse then I could get my money back.

Feel awful saying that with all the jobs being lost but it's the only way I can get my money back.

When do you go OP?

It's been in the press for well over a year that they are struggling so I'm amazed at how surprised many are at the news. If you book independently its important to have adequate insurance for end supplier failure to protect against airlines and accommodation suppliers going bust.

Now it's probably too late to buy adequate insurance but you could try with another supplier. As it's a known risk you may not be covered.

You'll probably know tomorrow what the situation is with TC. If they fold you'll need to arrange and pay for new flights yourself. If you're able to claim on insurance this is normally when you're back home. This is different from ATOL protection for a package where flights and another ground component (eg hotel, car rental) were booked through the same company within 24 hrs of each other and a certificate supplied. Some providers do not supply ATOL protection certificates even if booked together, it depends on the small print.

It bloody awful. I’m so sorry Op. I hope you don’t lose your money and get to go away.

I’m guessing it’s a Big Holiday too with flights at that price.

We experienced similar when there was that volcanic ash cloud and I’m fairly certain we didn’t get our money back for the flights.

The issue for some insurance policies is they haven’t cancelled it yet. Theoritically you could still fly out, have your holiday and fly back so can see why they don’t want to pay out right now. But if they take that stance they shouldn’t then say they won’t help people get back. This is all my own logical moral thoughts though and the only thing which counts are the T&Cs you agree at the time (usually without reading thoroughly).

Re: the credit card, you wouldn't need to put the whole amount on it. As long as at least £100 is paid by credit card then the whole amount is covered.