Travel trust association query

lisyloo

hi, I have a deposit down for holiday that has been moved twice already and may well be moved again.
its to a part of the world that is not currently allowing tourists in.
we are covered by the TTA however I know they will try to replace the holiday rather than refund especially where resorts have been paid.
does anyone know what happens if the TTA cannot provide the holiday at the same price (due to passage of time, pandemic prize rises and the TTA not being a specialist with local connections) and the holiday makers cannot afford to go?
I’ve read what’s on their website and we’re meant to be 100% protected but just wondering if anyone knows.
my feeling is that prices will be higher post pandemic and some members of our group will not be able to afford increased prices.

Westin

I think the Travel Trust Association is really just an alternation financial protection and bonding type of scheme. It is really good that your holiday has that financial protection but the TTA is not going to be responsible for anything other than what it is set up to do. It should be the travel organiser/tour operator that addresses your concerns about future availability and prices. 

lisyloo

Thanks. The travel agent is willing to go ahead at the previously quoted price for the most part and take any hit himself (although he doesn’t control flight prices and we’ll have to pay for testing).
we have not booked new flights (as that would be silly as we are not currently allowed in the country).

I’m asking if anyone knows what the TTA is set up to do if he goes bust.
my feeling is that they won’t be able to provide the holiday for the same price because - it was booked years ago, flights (and other things) have gone up, he’s a specialist who has local knowledge and I suspect some good deals through his connections/knowledge.

Im guessing we are in a good place if they can’t provide it at a “reasonable” price, but the resorts have been paid (which isn’t necessarily our problem).

Westin

I think as a general rule you will find that the TTA will just refund you for the costs of your original holiday.  

The recent collapse of Teletext has been a slightly different matter where TTA set up a travel division to take on some of the future TT bookings.  I suspect TT’s failure and debt was simply too big for the TTA fund deal with as full on refunds for all.

Should the unthinkable happen I can’t see TTA agreeing to rebook at higher fares and price for future travel. Your original holiday payment is protected but I think that would be it.

Lets see if @Alan_Bowen can join the thread as he normally is the guru on these travel bonding and travel company failure issues.

Alan_Bowen

The TTA holds funds on behalf of the travel company and should release them when either the elements have to be paid, such as the flight tickets, after which those funds are protected by an insurance policy or when the holiday is over. 

In the past when a company has failed, they have arranged refunds for all customers affected and that is the limit of their liability. I have to say generally they have been very efficient in sorting out the issues, I suppose if the flights have been booked and confirmed, it is cheaper to just pay for the other facilities to enable the holiday to proceed, but I think in most cases the failure has simply resulted in a refund, so @Westin's comments above are absolutely correct

lisyloo

Thanks so much.
 the funds were released to book resorts so I don’t believe they (TTA or travel agent) hold any funds.
do you mean the TTA will have insurance for this? Or do you mean holiday maker insurance?

I had a look at their website and I thought it said where arrangements had been paid for they would try to arrange for the holiday to go ahead. At the moment that can’t happen as tourism is not allowed.

If we get a refund that would put our mind at rest.

None of  us have flights booked. They were cancelled a year ago.

Alan_Bowen

TTA is insured to protect the funds if they 'go missing'! I think you are worrying unnecessarily. 

lisyloo

Great thankyou.
The money has not “gone missing” it’s with the resorts but currently we have no way of taking the holiday.