
Travellers in limbo after British holiday firm loses licence
The company, based in Berkshire, stopped trading as an Air Travel Organiser's Licence (ATOL) holder on June 13.
The Civil Aviation Authority 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.
"Whilst waiting for further information, please do not submit a claim as these will be rejected."
It added: "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 Civil Aviation Authority has the power to prosecute under section 1 of the Fraud Act 2006. The maximum sentence for this offence is 10 years' imprisonment.
Check that you have ATOL protection. If the travel provider was an ATOL holder, you may be ATOL protected if you purchased a flight and have not received tickets and have been given an ATOL Certificate.
This was introduced in 1973, as the popularity of overseas trips grew. The scheme is run by us at the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). When you purchase an ATOL protected trip which includes a flight, you should be given an ATOL Certificate.
Recommended reading:
If your travel company becomes a failed ATOL holder when you are abroad, they help you to continue your trip by:
It is important to check that the travel company you are looking to book with holds an ATOL.
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Holidays chaos fear as travel firm collapses - how to get your money back British holidaymakers with trips booked with Great Little Escapes saw their plans fall through after the company was removed from the ATOL scheme and ceased trading A UK travel company has collapsed - leaving many people's holiday plans in doubt (Image: PA ) UK-based Great Little Escapes, which operated under various names, including Our Holidays, Great Little Escapes, and Tunisia First, has ceased trading, causing chaos for travellers. British holidaymakers with trips booked with Great Little Escapes will have seen their plans fall through after the company was removed from the ATOL scheme and ceased trading. The Berkshire-based travel agency claimed to offer the 'best cheap breaks in the UK' and specialised in city breaks, while Your Holidays has a diverse portfolio, ranging from hen and stag parties to LGBT holidays and niche packages. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here TTG, the travel industry news website, has reported that the company's latest financials show it lost nearly £77,000 last year and recorded a deficit of £186,000 in 2023. Under UK law, all travel companies selling holidays and flights must hold an ATOL, which provides financial protection for consumers. The scheme ensures that if a travel company goes out of business, customers can either continue their holiday or receive a full refund. In the wake of the company's collapse, ATOL (Air Travel Licensing Scheme) stated that it was "currently collating information from the company" and would provide advice as soon as possible. Article continues below It advised people who might have been affected not to submit claims yet, as they would be rejected. But hundreds of summer holidays are now at risk and people are scrambling for answers. The authority also provided clear instructions for associated travel agents, stating: '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." This latest travel agent flop is bound to rattle the nerves of bargain-hunting holidaymakers who'd rather save on the booking so they can splash the cash on cocktails and souvenirs on their hols. What to do if your holiday company goes bankrupt Finding out your holiday company has gone bust can be a nightmare for travellers looking to jet off for a much-needed break (Image: Getty ) So, what do you do if your holiday company goes bankrupt? What are your rights, and can you recover your money? Finding out your holiday company has gone bust can be a nightmare for travellers looking to jet off for a much-needed break. 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The Independent
9 hours ago
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