Hi Can you please clarify what ATOL Protection actually means now. It appears that Airlines, suppliers and Hotels can choose not to refund for cancelled trips and Tour Operators are unable to offer a complete refund to the Clients. If the Government changes the PTR to suit the situation the confidence of the public will be in tatters and we, as an industry, will face a huge backlash when this all goes away. Should some of the £320bn the Government have promised go towards shoring up the refunds that the public have been promised- because they hold a piece of yellow paper - rather than changing the Goal posts around them?
If these rumoured changes to the PTR are made then ATOL Protection will not be fit for purpose.
Hi Martin thank you very much for your very informative reply. We have had a few circumstances over the last few days where the Clients have not been offered a 100% refund even though they are ATOL Protected. We are currently struggling with Tour Operators unable to refund some of the 'package' as the Airline or Hotel will not refund to them, under these circumstances the Clients are questioning the ATOL Protection and our worth. I am sure that most people would be reasonable considering the huge volume and therefore accept a delayed Refund which would be more acceptable to the few Clients that are unable to postpone their trip than have a future booking credit note.
An announcement needs to be made soon as to where the financial protection comes in as I am sure every Agent in the land is finding vast inconsistencies in what operators can and cant offer under the ATOL protection scheme and there is going to be a huge backlash if the public are unable to receive money back. regards Sue