Today's announcement that Thomson Airways parent company, TUI, have decided not to put their seat only sales under the UK's CAA ATOL licensing scheme from November 01st has blown another hole in the already complicated and misunderstood UK consumer protection framework applying to holidays.
We are presuming that TUI's rivals, Thomas Cook will soon follow Tui's lead and similarly opt out of covering their flight only sales. This will effectively put flight only sales on both airlines in the same non-protected category as any flight only sale on a low cost airline.
This change, I think, is only the start of the unravelling of an unworkable system, but its going to need some clear thinking and exceptional communication to ensure that, despite the ensuing complexity (mess?), customers understand where, when and how they stand in the event of an airline or tour operator failure.
More on this topic to follow as the story unfolds...
We are presuming that TUI's rivals, Thomas Cook will soon follow Tui's lead and similarly opt out of covering their flight only sales. This will effectively put flight only sales on both airlines in the same non-protected category as any flight only sale on a low cost airline.
This change, I think, is only the start of the unravelling of an unworkable system, but its going to need some clear thinking and exceptional communication to ensure that, despite the ensuing complexity (mess?), customers understand where, when and how they stand in the event of an airline or tour operator failure.
More on this topic to follow as the story unfolds...
