Holiday Guru Thomas Cook special: Our travel expert reveals the ins and outs of Atol protection and claiming refunds
The Holiday Guru is always on call to answer your questions.
This week he responds to queries relating to the collapse of travel firm Thomas Cook…
Q. I’m looking to go to Tenerife on a package holiday next spring, but have heard that the closure of Thomas Cook will increase the prices of package holidays at other companies. Is this true?
Jan McDonald, Sussex.
In the immediate aftermath of Thomas Cook’s collapse, flight prices offered by Jet2.com and Ryanair rose significantly
A. Yes, package prices will probably rise — it’s a simple matter of supply and demand. Even in the immediate aftermath of Thomas Cook’s collapse, flight prices offered by Jet2.com and Ryanair rose significantly (as did those firm’s share values). In the long run it seems likely package holiday prices in general will go up.
Q. We booked a package holiday in Corfu with Jetline Holidays departing on October 7, but our Thomas Cook Airlines flights have been cancelled. The flights are ATOL protected. Can we obtain a refund for the whole holiday?
Mrs Patricia Herbert, via email.
A. You should receive a full refund via ATOL, the Air Travel Organiser’s Licence, a fund operated by the government-run Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
On Monday, the CAA will launch a service for all Thomas Cook-related refunds. Payments will be made within two months of receipt of completed claims forms (thomascook.caa.co.uk).
Q. I booked a three-week, ATOL-covered Thomas Cook holiday for travel in January using a credit card. Should I claim from ATOL or my credit card company?
Susan McLoughlin, Liverpool.
On Monday, the CAA will launch a service for all Thomas Cook-related refunds
A. Claim via either, although it may be quicker via your credit card. As well as being covered by ATOL, your credit card company — under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act — provides cover, too.
We’re here to help
If you need advice, the Holiday Guru is here to answer your questions. Please send questions to holidayplanner@dailymail.co.uk or write to Daily Mail Travel, Northcliffe House, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TT — and include your contact details.
We will do our best to answer your queries but we can’t reply to every enquiry. Please do not send in any original documents.
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