Are you ATOL protected for the summer ahead??

Everyone loves to save money. That is a statement that is 100%true. However, sometimes when you save a bit at the start it can leave you very exposed to a huge financial penalty later on.

This could be the reality a lot of families may face this summer with their ‘self packaged’ cruises. Thousands of holiday makers face travel disruption in the summer due to a threat to strike by Easyjet Cabin crew over pay conditions. They are now planning a series of strikes after months of negotiations broke down recently. Easiest did previously comment on the situation saying they were confident their flight schedule will operate as usual but it seems their staff and their union, Unite, have different thoughts.

Unite have announced this morning their intention to ballot the Easyjet work force for strike action as early as this morning and also mentioned they only need to give Easyjet seven days notice.

There is obviously hope this can besorted quickly. However, what does this mean for cruise passengers if the strike does materialise?

If you have booked a package through your travel agent which includes flights, transfers and the cruise AND your agent has an ATOL license then your money is 100% protected and they will do the running around for you sourcing alternative flights etc You will obviously be a bit stressed worrying about your trip but you will be well looked after by professionals.

Now for the bad news for people who have booked everything separately themselves. If you have booked your flights with Easyjet, your cruise with someone else, your transfers with another company and possibly even a hotel, then your package is not linked at all in any way. You personally need to source other flights or travel methods to get to that port. Bearing in mind that sometimes Easyjet are the only people who fly to certain places from some UK airports this can prove very difficult indeed. If you cannot get new trains, planes or automobiles to get you to your destination and you miss your cruise well I’m afraid that is not covered under any insurance policy and you could find yourself spending all that money for a cruise you cannot get on.  Doesn’t seem like such a good saving now arranging it all by yourself.

Fingers crossed the strike can be averted but if it isn’t how protected are you?????