Why you’re safer booking your holiday with a travel agent

We’ve seen the sad situation this week once again of a travel company going into administration and leaving many of its customers stranded in foreign climbs facing huge bills just to get home. If you’re not sure how this works or why these customers weren’t covered under any ABTA or ATOL license then the answer is that the customers who booked a ‘package holiday‘ where the flights and hotels are included together are generally covered by their ATOL (Air Travel Organisers License). Customers who purchased flights only directly from the company will not be covered for their flights (so will have to find and pay for their own flight home) or hotel (should they not have arrived at it yet).

Many people choose to travel this way, booking cheap flights with easyjet, ryanair etc and then booking a hotel separately. In the travel industry we call this ‘dynamic packaging’ or DP. There are many great reasons to book your holiday with an ABTA/ATOL registered travel agent; expert knowledge, dealing with all the details, handling tour operator complaints, DISCOUNTS!, but this is a perfect example of what a vital role a good travel agent can play in this modern trend of dynamic packaging. If those customers finding themselves in difficulty had booked their holiday with a travel agent they could have booked exactly the products (flights and hotel) usually for the same price if not better, and the best part of all is that if that if the travel agent is ATOL bonded then what the customer has purchased becomes a package, provided by that travel agent under their ATOL license. Any problems with airlines entering administration or hotel companies are covered and the travel agent wil work with the CAA and ATOL to sort out everything for the client and they are left to relax and enjoy their holiday.

This is a perfect example of how any good independent travel agent can add so much value to your holiday and its planning and why choosing to book your holiday with Co-op Travel means that you are booking with a travel agent that is not only ABTA bonded and ATOL licensed, but also has a long history and tradition of providing the best service, best prices and highest standards of trustworthiness and integrity. You can trust the Co-op because we are owned by the people who matter, our members (you).

From expert impartial advice, often provided by someone who has been there and knows the region well through to making sure you get the best price, service and peace of mind. Travel agents provide a much under-valued service.