ATOL Certificate wording. HELP! (SOLVED)

mofofunk

I booked a package holiday with Expedia, they sent me an ATOL certificate but I'm confused about the wording.  I called them but it was near impossible to get any sense from them as their Indian accent is so strong everything was lost in communication.  The certificate states 
" Your protection

You are protected from when you were given this certificate to the end of your trip.
If Expedia, Inc. stops trading, the passengers named above will either:

1. take and complete their trip; or
2. receive a refund.
Your protection depends on the terms of the ATOL scheme and the specifics of the ATOL holder failure (available at www.atol.org.uk)"

.......what this doesn't make clear is, what happens if the flight is cancelled.  It tells you what to do if Expedia stops trading, but not what will happen if Emerites cancelled the flight, as they are providing the flights as part of the package.  I'd just like to make clear this is a package holiday, and not hotel/flight booked seperatly.  I do have travel insurance which I bought a month ago, but this only starts from the day I fly and reading the policy for that it doesn't sound like they cover me for anything before the date I fly.  Please can someone help, this is totally draining me trying to  make sense of it.  Thank, Ash

Browntoa

If the airline cancels the flight it's their responsibility to provide an alternative flight or book you on another airline

[Deleted User]

 If you have booked single trip cover it will cover cancellation before the date of the actual holiday 

Westin

Can you read further down the ATOL certificate and tell us what it says in the bottom right hand corner?
Ideally it will say - Package (Single-Contract)

mofofunk

Westin said:

Can you read further down the ATOL certificate and tell us what it says in the bottom right hand corner?
Ideally it will say - Package (Single-Contract)

Yes that correct Package Single contract

Westin

Whilst ATOL is your financial security, having a “package (single contract)” you have protection under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangement Regulations covering the situation that you describe and the issues you have concerns over.  
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2018/9780111168479/contents

Should Etihad cancel one or both of their flights then Expedia is responsible to find and offer alternative flights for your holiday, or offer a refund on the full package holiday costs (not insurance however). You won’t be left just with accommodation and no flights. Also if Etihad instigated a programme of flight consolidation, rescheduling and cancellations which resulted for example in an extended 24h stay, then Expedia is responsible for the extra night accommodation.

By booking as a package through a reputable company that includes ATOL protection, with travel insurance in place from booking date, you are probably in the best position you could be. 

Westin

mofofunk said:

........  I do have travel insurance which I bought a month ago, but this only starts from the day I fly and reading the policy for that it doesn't sound like they cover me for anything before the date I fly.  Please can someone help, this is totally draining me trying to  make sense of it.  Thank, Ash

I would reread this. It sounds strange. Whilst you might specify your travel dates the actual insurance element would normally come into effect upon purchase.  You then have insurance in place from insurance purchase to holiday completion. A claim could be made then if you are unable to go on holiday for one of the reasons covered within the policy.

mofofunk

Westin said:

Whilst ATOL is your financial security, having a “package (single contract)” you have protection under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangement Regulations covering the situation that you describe and the issues you have concerns over.  
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2018/9780111168479/contents

Should Etihad cancel one or both of their flights then Expedia is responsible to find and offer alternative flights for your holiday, or offer a refund on the full package holiday costs (not insurance however). You won’t be left just with accommodation and no flights. Also if Etihad instigated a programme of flight consolidation, rescheduling and cancellations which resulted for example in an extended 24h stay, then Expedia is responsible for the extra night accommodation.

By booking as a package through a reputable company that includes ATOL protection, with travel insurance in place from booking date, you are probably in the best position you could be. 

Thanks for the quick response, most of what you have said has put my mins at rest.  My only concern is that when i booked my travel insurance i put down the period of cover as ONLY starting on the date of travel, not the date i was booking the insurance (schoolboy error maybe); then i spotted this wording in the policy;

"Claims will only be considered if the cause of the claim falls within the

period of insurance."

Im guessing that i will need to bring the period of cover date forward to today, in order to cover a flight cancelation which might announced before i travel?

Thanks again

Westin

I would call your travel insurer and seek clarification of what was purchased and cover period.

mofofunk

Westin said:

I would call your travel insurer and seek clarification of what was purchased and cover period.

After speaking to them they have confirmed that I have had cancelation cover in place from when i booked the cover a week or so ago, so this would cover me

Thanks for your help