ATOL protection

[Cavfan]

I wonder if anyone knows the answer to this . I have just been looking at flights for Easter-ish and a Thomas Cook flight has come up at what I consider a reasonable price! the next flight on the list is exactly the same flight number etc but the price is about £80 more and the difference appears to be that the dearer one has ATOL protection. So am I right in thinking that this is the norm now for TCX and they will charge extra for that privilege. Seems like a right con

[Scunner]

ATOL do not cover flight only bookings of any kind that are booked direct with an airline. From the CAA (who run the ATOL scheme) website...

Airlines are not included within the ATOL Scheme, so if you booked direct with an airline that has ceased trading you will not be covered.

You may be comparing flights booked direct with an airline with the same flights to be booked through an ATOL holding agent or holiday company. £80 seems way too much for that though - Aegean Flights charge £2.50 for ATOL protection (remember Aegean are not an airline, Onur are the airline normally). Even having paid that, it's sketchy as to what you would do as the CAA in those cases would, if the airline went bust, direct you back to Aegean and would not listen to any claim under the ATOL scheme from you.

Complicated isn't it  

[stoop]

Go for the cheap one and use your credit card to pay. As long as it's over £100 they will cover you.

[Cavfan]

Cheers both of you! Stoop thats what I thought so thanks for that!

[stoop]

Plus you could always make sure your holiday insurance covers airline failure. Lots of them do.