Financial Protection

Package Holidays are legally protected by the Package Holiday Regulations which require all flight based holidays to be ATOL protected.

Package Holidays not including a flight must be protected in one of three ways:

• A bond held by one of the following organizations: ABTA, the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), the Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) or the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (ABTOT); or
• An insurance policy; or
• A trust account

OTS acts as an agent for ALL Package Holiday principals and so our clients monies are safeguarded be they associated with ATOL approved operators via the CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) or by ABTA. It is emphasised that if a package organiser fails whilst you are on holiday then you will be brought home without extra expense. Likewise, if a deposit or full payment has been paid to a properly licensed package organizer who fails prior to your holiday then, once again, your monies are totally protected.

Flight or 'Seat Only' Protection

Where OTS provides a ticket (normally an e-ticket nowadays) straight away or no later than the working day after taking payment you are protected against our own failure by virtue of the fact you hold a ticket. However, as things stand at the moment (April 2012) there’s no protection against the financial failure of the airline. ATOL protection simply doesn’t apply here.

Accommodation Only

The only financial protection available here depends entirely on the booking conditions of those principals involved. These will vary from a 5 star luxury hotel level to a rather more humble bed-bank situation. Clearly, the outcome is questionable other than to state that OTS will always protect the interests of our clients whilst at the same time acting as responsible agents for the approved principals we represent.