Thousands of Holidaymakers Face Travel Disruption as Great Little Escapes Collapses
A UK-based holiday company, Great Little Escapes, has ceased trading, leaving thousands of people at risk of having their summer travel plans cancelled. The company, which operated under several names, including Your Holidays, Great Little Escapes, Tunisia First, and various web addresses, has been reported to have stopped trading.
According to a notice from the Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) scheme, which is operated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the company based in Sandhurst, Berkshire, has collapsed. The ATOL scheme is a financial protection scheme in the UK that protects travellers when they book package holidays that include a flight.
In a statement, ATOL said: “The company based in Sandhurst, Berkshire traded under the names Your Holidays, Great Little Escapes, Tunisia First and websites www.themaldives.co.uk, www.yourholidays.co.uk, www.thecaribbean.com and www.greatlittleescapes.co.uk. We are currently collating information from the company and will update this page as soon as possible.”
As reported by the Bristol Post, any claims for compensation will currently be rejected in the early stages of the process. ATOL has advised that: “If you are a travel agent of Great Little Escapes LLP and you are currently holding consumer payments which you have not yet paid to Great Little Escapes LLP, you must not use these funds to refund consumers until you have received instructions from the Air Travel Trust.”
Travel agents will be individually contacted by the CAA with specific instructions for these bookings. The CAA has also reassured travellers that if a travel company with an ATOL goes bust, they will get a refund if they haven’t travelled yet. If travellers are already abroad, ATOL ensures they are not stranded and helps bring them home.
The collapse of Great Little Escapes has significant implications for holidaymakers. According to the Bristol Post, there are two different roles that often get confused: ATOL (CAA) – which protects money and repatriation, and The Travel Ombudsman (like ADR schemes) – which handles complaints.
If something goes wrong, travellers are advised to first go to the travel company. If unresolved, and it’s financial or related to collapse, they should go to ATOL via the CAA. For complaints not involving insolvency, such as poor service, travellers can escalate to an ombudsman or Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) body.
When booking a holiday, travellers are advised to look for the ATOL logo and receive an ATOL certificate immediately after booking. They can also check a company’s ATOL status on the CAA website. The Bristol Post has reported that the CAA will provide further updates on the collapse of Great Little Escapes as more information becomes available.
The collapse of Great Little Escapes serves as a reminder of the importance of checking the ATOL status of a travel company before booking a holiday. By doing so, travellers can ensure that their money is protected and that they will receive the support they need if something goes wrong.
As this is a developing story, the Bristol Post will continue to provide updates on the situation. In the meantime, travellers who have been affected by the collapse of Great Little Escapes can contact ATOL or the CAA for further information and support.
In summary, the collapse of Great Little Escapes has left thousands of holidaymakers at risk of having their travel plans cancelled. The Bristol Post has reported that the company has ceased trading, and that any claims for compensation will currently be rejected. Travellers have been advised to check the ATOL status of a travel company before booking a holiday and to contact ATOL or the CAA if they have been affected by the collapse.
Travellers can check if their holiday company is ATOL protected by checking the company’s website or contacting the CAA directly. If a holiday company collapses, ATOL will provide support and repatriation for travellers who are abroad, and refunds for those who have not yet travelled.
The CAA has confirmed that it will work with travel agents to ensure that consumers are protected and that their funds are handled correctly. The Bristol Post will continue to provide updates on this story as more information becomes available.
As the situation continues to unfold, travellers are advised to remain vigilant and to seek support from ATOL or the CAA if they have been affected by the collapse of Great Little Escapes.
Source: Bristol Post
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