It is so frustrating when customer book in America and then something goes wrong and they expect www.cruise.co.uk or the cruise liner to be able to assist them.
In the UK reputable Travel agents have ABTA and ATOL cover, now this is important for many reasons but with the current financial climate, and companies going in to administration such as XL Leisure, Globespan, Allbury Travel Group among others. It is more important to make sure that companies you use have this.
ABTA (Association of British Travel Agents)
www.cruise.co.uk pay a large bond to be a member of ABTA.
ABTA checks that www.cruise.co.uk are financially sound
Any descriptions are as accurate as possible
www.cruise.co.uk will handle your booking with the highest standards of service and quality
Your money is safe
You will never be stranded abroad ABTA takes great care in checking www.cruise.co.uk finances to reduce the risk of anything going wrong.
In the unlikely event that it does, ABTA's discretionary scheme of financial protection will be in place so that:
• If you are already on a trip, you will be able to continue as originally planned. ABTA will make sure you are never stranded abroad.
• If you've not yet started your trip, you'll get your money back or where possible ABTA will make arrangements for you to continue with the planned trip.
ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s License)
www.Cruise.co.uk act as agents for licensed tour operators; the relevant ATOL number is displayed with each holiday shown.
Firms selling air travel in the UK are required by law to hold ATOL's.
ATOL's protect you from losing money, or being stranded abroad, when travel firms go bust.
Before any firm gets an ATOL, it has to lodge guarantees with the CAA. (Civil Aviation Authority)
If it goes out of business, the CAA gives refunds to people who can't travel and pays for people abroad to finish their holidays and fly home.
This protection is included in the price of a trip booked with an ATOL-holder.
Beware....
If you build your own holiday and book direct with an airline or hotel you won't be protected
If you book your flights and hotel separately online, it may be cheaper, but your holiday and money will be at risk if one of the companies providing the components collapses. You could be left with holiday accommodation and no flight to get there, or be stranded abroad.
To further secure your holiday make sure you have travel insurance, you can get it from your travel provider, who has to be trained to sell insurance to you, this insure you are fully protected or you can use your bank or other providers of travel insurance. This is a different protection from ABTA and ATOL, so do not think if you have travel insurance you will be covered.
For further information on Travel insurance view Diana's blog
http://dianasdreamdays.blogspot.com/2009/12/are-you-covered-dianas-tips-for.html
0 comments:
Post a Comment