ATOL Scheme Notes

ATOL Overview

  • Air Travel Organisers Licensing (ATOL) = UK consumer financial-protection scheme for flight-based packages & some flight-only bookings.
  • Administered by UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
  • If an ATOL holder fails, government fund repatriates customers & refunds untraveled bookings.
  • Applies only when flights are included; non-flight packages are non-licensable.

Types of ATOL Certificates

  • Single-Contract Package Certificate
    • Most common for IntelliTravel-built packages (IntelliTravel = organiser).
    • Preferred-partner packages: partner issues certificate under their ATOL.
  • Multi-Contract Package Certificate
    • Customer holds separate contracts with each supplier.
    • Rare for IntelliTravel; used mainly when agents themselves package multiple suppliers.
  • Flight-Only Certificate
    • Needed when booking flights via consolidator/partner & ticket not issued immediately.
    • Direct airline bookings with immediate ticket issue: no ATOL, no certificate.

When & How to Issue Certificates

  • Must reach customer within 33 days of booking.
  • Include Air Travel Trust contribution (APC) in all costings.
  • Every booking registered in back office immediately.

Internal Process (All Certificate Types)

  • Confirm booking ➜ take payment ➜ register in back office.
  • Use back-office link to ATOL platform → enter booking ref & details → select correct certificate → download.
  • Email certificate + relevant T&Cs to customer; advise printing for travel.

Post-Booking Changes

  • Changes > 7272 hours before departure: issue new certificate ASAP & update system.
  • Changes ≤ 7272 hours: no new certificate required; inform customer & update system.

Mandatory Statements & Documents

  • Include CAA-prescribed ATOL protection paragraph on all receipts/invoices.
  • Supply appropriate T&Cs:
    • IntelliTravel T&Cs for IntelliTravel ATOL bookings.
    • Airline T&Cs for flight-only.
    • Partner T&Cs for partner-organised packages.
  • PTR 20182018 information obligations still apply (pre & post booking).

Key Reminders

  • IntelliTravel packages = IntelliTravel is organiser; partner packages = IntelliTravel is agent.
  • Identify package vs. flight-only vs. non-licensable before booking.
  • No ATOL needed if package contains no flight.
  • Always brief customer on protection, cancellation rights & any non-refundable elements.