Brits urged to check summer bookings

Britons looking to book flights and accommodation for their 2008 summer holiday have been urged to make sure their reservations are financially protected.

Those making travel arrangements for next year should ensure the firms they use offer protection under the Air Travel Organisers' Licensing (ATOL) scheme, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said.

ATOL enables the CAA to provide refunds to travellers if their operator goes bankrupt. While credit cards and travel insurance may provide certain levels of cover in such instances, the ATOL scheme is the best protection for holidaymakers, according to the CAA.

"If you want to make sure your money is safe, check that an operator has an ATOL. Look for the ATOL logo and a tour operator's licence number in brochures and on websites," CAA consumer protection group director Richard Jackson commented.

According to the CAA, a fifth of UK holidaymakers wrongly believe that the holidays they put together themselves are automatically protected.

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