If you see this message on a website "We act as agents for various ATOL holders that provide ATOL bonded flights" then only the flight part of your holiday will be ATOL protected and you could end up with problems. Here's why!
With the introduction of Dynamic packaging (the system that brings all of the holiday elements together) many online travel agents decided that they could save money by not offering customers ATOL protection. They simply treat each segment of the holiday (i.e. flight, accommodation, transfers, etc) as individual items and automatically book them as such therefore getting around the small cost of providing an ATOL. Holidays-2 doesn't go along with this as things can and do go wrong. Flights do get cancelled and delayed and you could end up being stranded overseas. Read a couple of examples below.
Customer 1: Booked a holiday with us some way in advance but Thomson's decided to cancel her flight. They had broken no rules but it left our customer with accommodation she couldn't get to along with a car hire she wouldn't need. We found the customer different flights which were more expensive but she was delighted to hear that the ATOL would pick up the difference.
Customer 2: Booked a "low-cost" flight & hotel with us but found that the airline had problems and cancelled his return flight. All any "low-cost" airline (which are not required to hold an ATOL) has to do is either refund you the cost of your return flight or offer you a seat on the next available flight. In this case the alternative flight was in four days time. The only other available flight was leaving the next day with a different carrier and of course the price was considerably higher. The ATOL picked up the price difference and paid for and extra night on holiday.
These are just two simple examples of what can (and does) go wrong and you should never book a holiday unless all of the elements are packaged
together as a holiday and fall under the protect of an ATOL. You may save pennies but it could cost you hundred's of pounds. For peace of mind and customer satisfaction the Linden Travel Group absorb the extra cost of the ATOL.
We strongly believe that we have a duty to ensure that your holiday runs as smoothly as possible and if things go pear shaped then you shouldn't be penalized financially for something outside of your control.
