Will the Atol protection carry on paying out indefinitely?
The Air Travel Trust Fund, which is the last backstop when an Atol company fails, is already £21 million in the red. The fund is backed by a £300 million insurance policy and is being topped up by a £1 per passenger levy. If too much money is spent because there is a wave of failures, the levy could be increased to ensure sufficient protection. Should I wait to book a holiday? If you can get away only in school holidays, the answer is no. It’s a great time to take advantage of early booking incentives, from free children’s places to sizeable discounts. If you have more flexibility, you can play the waiting game if you’re worried about further company collapses. But you need to weigh that against the fact that prices are likely to go up next year – certainly there won’t be such a range of last-minute deals available. Should I wait to book a flight? It’s generally better to book flights as early as possible to get a good price. As long as you ensure that you’re financially protected, the
