For all direct bookings made before the 29th December 2014 or for all travel agent bookings, the full balance of the holiday must be paid no later than 10 weeks before departure.
For all direct booking made after the 29th December the full balance of the holiday must be paid no later than 14 weeks before departure. Failure to do this may result in your holiday being cancelled and charges made accordingly.
For direct customers where travel is within 14 weeks of the booking date you will need to pay the full cost of the holiday at the time of booking, by debit or credit card.
For customers who booked through a travel agent where travel is within 10 weeks of the booking date you will need to pay the full cost of the holiday at the time of booking, by debit or credit card.
Cheques require 5 working days to clear - cheques that will not clear at least 14 weeks before departure cannot be accepted.
The deposit required at booking stage is usually £250 per person. Some airfares are booked at especially competitive rates to which the airlines may attach severe restrictions. You may be asked to pay for these in full at the time of booking and they may be non-refundable in the event of cancellation.
Please note that the deposit you are required to pay at the time of booking is clearly shown as "Deposit due now" in the Price Summary (on the Holiday Summary page). Where this does not appear it is because full payment is required at the time of booking.
As we step up our efforts to strive for a sustainable office and minimise our paper usage and carbon footprint, we are no longer sending correspondence by post if you have provided us with an email address.
For online bookings you will receive a booking request acknowledgement email the same day. For online and telephone bookings, once your booking is confirmed by us, you will receive your confirmation invoice via email within 5 working days.
For our customers who do not have an email address, when the booking is confirmed by us, you will receive your confirmation invoice by post within 5 working days.
Your itinerary and any other required documents will be sent via email (if provided) or by Royal Mail post, a minimum of 10 days prior to departure. Please note that most of our scheduled flights now operate an e-ticket system - where this is the case, paper tickets will not be sent out and the airline reference number will be included on your itinerary.
Please ensure you retain your itinerary for all aspects of your journey as this may be required for check-in.
What is the general luggage allowance allowed on flights and what terminal do I depart from?
As many airlines operate different policies regarding hold baggage, we have provided the information below as a guide. In addition to assist with your travel plans we have included detail for departure terminals. Should you wish to enquire about opportunities to upgrade your flight in any way, please do not hesitate contact our Customer Service department on the number stated on your itinerary.
Easyjet Cabin Bag Guarantee From 2nd July 2013, Easyjet are offering a new cabin bag guarantee. If your cabin bag is within the dimensions of 50x40x20cm including all handles and wheels, it is guaranteed to be allowed in the cabin with you. If your cabin bag is larger than this, up to a maximum size of 56x45x25cm including handles and wheels, it may have to be put in the hold on busier flights (at no additional cost). This guarantee relates to carry-on bags and does not affect your luggage allowance. Larger bags will have to be taken as part of your luggage allowance or a supplement paid.
If you are departing from Birmingham, Newcastle, Glasgow and Edinburgh you will be departing from the main terminal.
If you are departing from Edinburgh, East Midlands, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford & Newcastle you will be departing from the main terminal.
There is no hold luggage included in your Economy fare price*. This will need to be added before travel or at the airport.
*No luggage included with exception of Frequent Traveller Members and travel to/from Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia and Belarus.
If you are departing from Leeds-Bradford, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Bristol or Birmingham you will be departing from the Main Terminal.
If you are departing from Birmingham, East Midlands, Leeds-Bradford or Luton you will be departing from the Main Terminal.
I wish to book a seat with extra space are there any restrictions?
Seats with extra space can be pre-booked on a number of airlines for an extra charge, however these are subject to availability and some airlines do not allow you to prebook. These seats are often close or next to emergency exit doors, behind a bulkhead or behind a dividing wall. They may therefore have additional space in front of the seat, but not always additional room to stretch your legs out. To check availability and book extra legroom seats please call our Customer Services Team.
Emergency exit row seats are only available to passengers who are able to move quickly and operate the emergency exit without difficultly if necessary, in line with European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) regulations. These regulations have been put in place by the EASA and are for the safety of all passengers. The cabin crew have the final say and we kindly ask that their decisions are respected.
What hand baggage restrictions are there?
All airlines have differing specifications for cabin baggage. Due to the nature and the number of restrictions, which may be destination specific, we advise all passengers to check the relevant airline's website for full comprehensive details.
I'm a British Airways Executive Club Member, will I still receive my membership benefits when booking?
Please note that on some of our British Airways routes, there may be restrictions on the benefits that you would normally receive as an Executive Club Member. These restrictions occur when the seats are bought from an allocation we have on certain routes. If you would like clarification on whether these restrictions occur on the flights you would like to select, please call us and one of our Personal Travel Experts will be able to detail any restrictions or find alternatives for you where there are no restrictions.
Wheelchair and special assistance for passengers with reduced mobility and/or sensory impairments can be provided at most airports. It is essential that you arrange this with us at the time of booking to avoid disappointment. If you do not make this request in advance, we cannot guarantee that the service will be available. Simply contact us on 01293 762400 for new enquiries and bookings or 01293 762 402 for existing bookings and tell us the type of assistance required.
All Travellers to the b Emirates are advised to check whether their medication is on the approved drugs list provided by the Ministry of Health on the following website address http://www.uaeembassyuk.net/ or contact via the telephone on 0207 581 1281.
For any other destinations, it is recommended that you carry a repeat prescription with the medication in its original pharmacy packaging or a doctor's letter confirming any liquid medication that exceeds the 100ml per bottle limit.
Yes, majority of our Suppliers will have these and we would need to contact them for availability and costs for your dates. Please contact us on 01293 762400 for new enquiries and bookings or 03303 322162 for existing bookings to make arrangements.
What should I do if I have a special request on a booking?
If you or any of your party have a Special Assistance requirement (for disabled or less mobile passengers). Please call 01293 762 402 with your quote reference number and we will endeavour to make sure your requirements are met before booking.
ATOL was established nearly 45 years ago by the government to ensure holiday makers booking an air-package or flight booking (flights must be international and leaving from or arriving in to the UK) were financially protected if their tour operator ceased trading. We are ATOL bonded so you have always had this protection when you book with us. It means that if you book a protected holiday you are looked after in resort and brought back to the UK, or if you are yet to travel, and ATOL are unable to source your holiday from another operator you could apply for a refund of anything paid to that point.
Since ATOL was first established, more people are booking their holiday components separately, rather than booking a package holiday. This has led to confusion over what parts of a holiday might be protected by ATOL and inconsistency between some agents and operators and what they have protected under their ATOL licence. ATOL reform therefore took place and to ensure you are clear over the ATOL protection that you will have for your booking a certificate is being issued for all protected bookings.
Why have you sent me an ATOL certificate?
The government recently proposed changes to the ATOL regulations that will provide clarity over exactly what is and is not financially protected under the ATOL scheme. As an ATOL-licensed tour operator we are pleased to have always provided our customers with the highest level of protection. However, since 1 October 2012, we are now obliged by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to issue certificates with all our air package or flight bookings. Your certificate confirms that your money is protected and details which parts of your booking are covered under the ATOL scheme.
We have always protected our customers in this way, so there is no change to your level of financial security, the only difference is that we will now provide you with a certificate to prove this. There are three different types of certificate - Flight Only, Flight Plus and Package. We will issue you with the correct type of certificate.
Why have you not sent me an ATOL certificate?
If you made your booking after 01 October, and greater than 72 hours before departure, and did not receive an ATOL Certificate then your booking is not ATOL protected. ATOL only provides financial protection for package holidays with a flight, or flight only bookings so some bookings are not protected under the scheme. Also, only bookings with an international flight in to or out of the UK are included. If you have booked a package holiday with us that does not include a flight, we will provide you with financial protection by way of a bond held by ABTA. We are a member of ABTA which means you have the benefit of ABTA's assistance and Code of Conduct. We provide financial protection for your money when you buy a package holiday. If you buy other travel arrangements such as accommodation only this protection doesn't apply. For further information, visit the ABTA website at www.abta.com. If you book arrangements other than an ATOL protected flight or a package holiday, the financial protection referred to above does not apply. Our ATOL number is 0285 and our ABTA number is V4068.
For new bookings made within 72 hours and for amendments made within 72 hours, we will not issue a certificate. You are still protected, but must have your Booking Confirmation and Invoice with you on holiday instead.
If your holiday has items on-request you will not receive a certificate until all items are processed and your booking is confirmed.
If you made an air package or flight booking with us prior to 01 October, you will only receive a certificate if an amendment is made that changes the details listed specifically on the certificate. If you made your booking prior to 01 October and do not amend your booking to receive a certificate, you are still protected at the same level you were previously. Keep your Booking Confirmation and Invoice safe and take it with you on holiday, as this is what you will need to produce if a claim is required.
If your booking changes from an air package or flight to an accommodation-only booking, or it changes to a non-flight package a certificate will not be issued. This is because your booking will no longer be protected under the ATOL scheme.
When should I receive my ATOL certificate?
If you made your booking through a Travel Agent your certificate will be handed to you at the agency.
If you made your booking online direct with us, a certificate will be sent to you via email shortly after your complete your booking.
If you made your booking direct with us via our Call Centre, your certificate will be emailed to you shortly after we complete your booking, or if you do not have an email address your certificate will be posted to you within 24 hours Monday-Friday / 48 hours Saturday-Sunday.
What do I have to do with my ATOL certificate?
Keep your latest ATOL certificate safe with your Booking Confirmation and Invoice and your Departure Documents and take it on holiday with you.
Why have you issued me a new ATOL certificate?
If there are changes to your booking and the information provided on the previous certificate changes (more than 72 hours prior to departure), we must issue a new ATOL Certificate. For example, if the flight number of your flight changes, or new passengers are added to the booking. If changes are made to your booking that are not separately detailed on the certificate we will not send you a new certificate. For example, the name of your hotel, or a minor flight time change.
Why has the type of ATOL certificate you issued me changed?
There are 3 different types of ATOL certificate and any air-package or flight booking will fit in to one of the categories. If your booking changes, it may require a different type of certificate or a certificate may be required when it was not previously appropriate.
For example, if you had a flight-only booking and received your flight-only certificate, but then added on an overnight accommodation or a car hire you would then receive a package certificate.
For example, if you booked accommodation-only initially, but then added on a flight, you would initially have received no certificate, but would then receive a package certificate.
If your booking changes from an air package or flight to an accommodation-only booking or a non-air package, a new certificate will not be issued as your booking will no longer be protected under the ATOL scheme.
Why do I have a different price on my ATOL certificate vs. my Invoice, or there is no amount at all stated on the certificate?
The amount protected under the ATOL scheme shows on Flight-Only and Flight Plus certificates, but does not show on a Package Certificates.
The amount shown is protected under the ATOL scheme. Certain parts of your booking, such as UK domestic flights, insurance premiums and credit card charges are not included, and therefore will not be part of the protected amount shown.
This does not affect the price or the details of your booking with us and you should check your Booking Confirmation and Invoice for what we have confirmed to you, what you have paid already and the balance that must be paid.
Why are the number of passengers different on my ATOL certificate vs. my Invoice?
Infants are excluded from the number of passengers, however their names will be included in the list of passengers.
Why are everyone's names not listed?
It is a requirement for all passengers names to be listed on the Flight Only and Flight Plus certificate. Package Certificates may contain only the Lead passenger name under the CAA guidelines. Whether all the names appear on a Package Certificate depends on the party size, however all names will be listed on the Booking Confirmation and/or invoice. In addition, only those passengers utilising all of the package or Flight Plus trip will be listed, so if some of your party are only using the accommodation their names will not show.
This does not affect the people who are included in your booking with us and you should check your Booking Confirmation and Invoice for what we have confirmed to you and to make sure that all names are spelt correctly.
Why are some of my Flights and Extras not listed on my ATOL certificate?
There are certain rules that apply to what is protected by ATOL. Certain parts of your booking, such as UK domestic flights, insurance premiums and credit card charges are not included and therefore will not show on your certificate.
This does not affect the price or the details of your booking with us and you should check your Booking Confirmation and Invoice for what we have confirmed to you.
Why has my Travel Agent issued my certificate not you?
We have agreed with a number of the Travel Agents we work with that they will issue an ATOL certificate to you. This does not affect the level of protection you will receive, we just wanted to make sure you received your certificate as quickly as possible.
If I'm not protected under ATOL do I have any financial protection?
If you have booked a package holiday with us that does not include a flight, we will provide you with financial protection by way of a bond held by ABTA. For further information, visit the ABTA website at www.abta.com. If you book arrangements other than an ATOL protected air package or flight booking, or a package holiday we do not provide financial protection.