New ATOL Protection Rules Kick In Today

We’ve all read stories in the press about tour operators collapsing and holidaymakers being left out of pocket. It’s the reason why all First Choice holidays are protected by ATOL – a government-backed scheme that means your money’s safe when you book with us, and we’ll never leave you stranded overseas.

It’s also the thinking behind some new rules, introduced today, that mean more holidays now fall under the ATOL scheme. Under the extension, ‘flight-plus’ holidays – that’s certain breaks that combine a flight with another element, and are booked within a specific time frame – are also covered. According to the BBC, some 6 million holidaymakers will benefit from the change.

There are still plenty of holiday types that aren’t covered, though – if you’re only booking your flight, or going down the DIY route and booking your flight and hotel direct from each provider, you won’t be able to claim under the ATOL scheme. To find out more about the new rules, take a look at the full BBC story. And to read about full ATOL protection with First Choice, just click here.