Question about booking flights only??

[poppie123]

Hi everyone.

I just need to see if i have this right..

If you book a flight direct with an airline then you are not covered by ATOL and if something should happen then you are on your own so to speak.

If you book a flight through a Travel Agents say like Broadway Travel, Charter Travel who are ATOL protected does that mean even if they themselves then book you say a BA flight direct you are still covered under their (the travel agents) ATOL?? and you would get home if anything should happen.

All this has made me very nervous. I was going to book flights direct with an airline but now i am not so sure. I know if you paid by credit card you will get it back if something should happen but i wouldn't want to be in the posistion of having to pay out for flights again.

 

[carolfoy]

if you book through a travel agent you must make sure they are ABTA bonded (the assoc of british travel agents) any airline or tour operator direct booking should be ATOL bonded (air tour operators licence) these are the insurances that are in place to protect you. There are numerous companies on teh internet who cut and paste the ATOL logo and a random number and aren't actually bonded so DO check it out if a flight price seems too good to be true!

 

[Freaky]

Why not look at booking a fly drive 'holiday' instead - you don't have to take the 'free' car so avoid paying any upgrades or insurances and book your car elsewhere cheaper. We have done this through BA Holidays for the end of June 2009 and got a price very similar to flight only - but it does give that extra ABTA protection as it is classified as a holiday

We booked a few weeks ago so before the XL nightmare - mainly due to only having to pay a small deposit rather than the full flight price. Just another bonus to booking a 'holiday'

Tracey

 

[Steve and Sarah]

Simple solution is book it with you credit card. Whatever you book is covered (As long as it is over £100) under the consumer credit act - meaning you will get your money back in full whatever happens.

 

[kmaccui]

Why not look at booking a fly drive 'holiday' instead - you don't have to take the 'free' car so avoid paying any upgrades or insurances and book your car elsewhere cheaper. We have done this through BA Holidays for the end of June 2009 and got a price very similar to flight only - but it does give that extra ABTA protection as it is classified as a holiday

good idea

 

[Giddy Kipper]

Why not look at booking a fly drive 'holiday' instead - you don't have to take the 'free' car so avoid paying any upgrades or insurances and book your car elsewhere cheaper. We have done this through BA Holidays for the end of June 2009 and got a price very similar to flight only - but it does give that extra ABTA protection as it is classified as a holiday

Do you do this over the phone or is their options online?

 

[poppie123]

You ring them up here is the number 0844 493 0772. just ask them to quote you a price for flydrive.
I rang this morning but i was quoted £432 more than if i just booked flights with them. Considering i didn't want the car it was just a bit too much to pay so i changed my booking with Disney Uk and now have a flight inclusive holiday.

 

[pandv_2000]

The options are online. We have booked a flydrive with Virgin. Left it with the basic car and basic insurance and will purchase car hire separately much cheaper and just not collect the virgin car

 

[Freaky]

Why not look at booking a fly drive 'holiday' instead - you don't have to take the 'free' car so avoid paying any upgrades or insurances and book your car elsewhere cheaper. We have done this through BA Holidays for the end of June 2009 and got a price very similar to flight only - but it does give that extra ABTA protection as it is classified as a holiday

Do you do this over the phone or is their options online?

As Poppie123 has said you just give them a call for a quote. Our price was only £10-£20 each more than the flight price at that time but it suited us as we didn't want to have to fork out for the full price of the flights (we had only just returned from Orlando!). All that was required is a £100 deposit each.

I know if we searched and searched the flight only option we may have paid a bit cheaper but for our situation it worked well and the quote was only £389 each so certainly not a bad price

Tracey