No, loveholidays is not an ABTA member but its flight inclusive package holidays are protected by ATOL, while package holidays also benefit from protection under the Package Travel Regulations.
It is an easy thing to get confused about, especially when you are comparing lots of holiday deals and seeing different protection logos and terms. ABTA and ATOL are separate schemes, and knowing which protection applies to your particular booking is worth checking before you pay.
Is Loveholidays An ABTA Member?
Loveholidays confirms that it is not an ABTA member. ABTA, or the Association of British Travel Agents, is a UK travel trade organisation that provides support, standards and financial protection for customers booking with its members.
Instead, its flight inclusive package holidays can be protected through the ATOL scheme, which is the UK financial protection scheme specifically covering eligible package holidays that include a flight. This means you should not assume that a loveholidays booking is ABTA protected simply because it is a package holiday.
The good news is that being covered by ATOL provides an important form of financial protection when booking an eligible flight inclusive package.
What Does ATOL Protection Mean?
ATOL stands for Air Travel Organiser’s Licence and is designed to protect travellers financially if an ATOL protected travel company stops trading.
If you have booked an eligible flight and hotel package and loveholidays were to stop trading, ATOL protection can help ensure that you receive a refund if you have not travelled, or help you complete your holiday and return home if you are already away.
Loveholidays currently states that its ATOL number is 10989 and that customers receive an ATOL Certificate after their booking has been processed and confirmed. The certificate explains what is protected, so it is something you should keep with your booking documents.
Are All Loveholidays Bookings ATOL Protected?
This is where it is important to read the details rather than simply assuming every booking has identical protection. Loveholidays says that ATOL protection does not apply to every travel service listed on its website. Hotel only and flight only bookings are generally not covered by ATOL, while eligible flight inclusive package holidays are.
Your ATOL Certificate should tell you what is protected. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate, the booking will not be ATOL protected. So before booking, we recommend checking exactly what you are buying and what protection comes with it.
What About The Package Travel Regulations?
There is another layer of protection worth knowing about. Loveholidays says its package holidays are covered by the Package Travel Regulations. These regulations give customers certain rights when different travel services are sold together as a package, such as flights and accommodation.
Depending on the circumstances, these rights can include alternatives, refunds or price reductions if a significant part of the package cannot be provided as agreed. This is separate from ABTA membership and should not be confused with ATOL either.
How Can You Find The Best Loveholidays Deals?
With so many hotels, destinations and departure options available, finding a good loveholidays deal is not always as simple as choosing the cheapest price on the screen. This is where Holiday Exclusives comes in!
We hand pick the best Loveholidays deals we think are worth a closer look, bringing together attractive package holidays across popular destinations and different budgets. Rather than expecting you to spend hours scrolling through hundreds of options, we do the searching for you and highlight holidays that offer something special.
That could mean an excellent all inclusive resort, a family friendly escape, an adults only break, a great last minute price or a tempting beach holiday in one of those destinations you have been thinking about for months.
Should You Check Your Protection Before Booking?
Definitely! It only takes a moment, but it can make a real difference to understanding exactly what you are buying.
Look at whether your holiday is a package, check whether it is ATOL protected and keep your ATOL Certificate and booking documents somewhere safe. Remember that ABTA membership and ATOL protection are not the same thing.
At Holiday Exclusives, we love finding the holidays that make you want to start packing immediately. That is why we pick out the best Loveholidays deals, helping you find exciting holidays at prices worth getting excited about, while leaving you to concentrate on the important part of choosing where you want to go.
