Consumers are being urged by the aviation regulator to check for Atol protection and read the small print on bargain holiday deals ahead of ‘Sunshine Saturday’.
January 6 is predicted to see a surge in bookings as it is one of the most popular dates to plan a holiday.
Exclusive research conducted by the Civil Aviation Authority’s Atol arm shows that almost three in five people (56%) plan to go overseas this summer, and just over half (51%) intend to travel abroad more than once in 2024.
Around four in ten in the poll of 2,295 people carried out on December 9-10 also said they would book a package for their next big holiday.
Almost one in 10 (8%) plan to research and book their major holiday on the same day, while 20% will take a more cautious approach by spending more than a month researching flights, destination and accommodation before finally booking.
Around two in five (18%) will take more than a week to plan their holiday with just over one in 10 (11%) saying it will take them more than two weeks.
The Atol department has also issued a list of seven top tips for booking a holiday to ensure consumers will not lose money if something goes wrong, as well as four tips for checking for hidden costs from an unfamiliar tour operator.
A campaign is running throughout January and February reminding people of the importance of checking for Atol protection before they book their next trip abroad.
CAA director Tim Johnson said: “This weekend, typically known as ‘Sunshine Saturday’ is traditionally the busiest for people booking their holidays, with many travellers taking advantage of bargain deals.
“We’ve seen bookings grow significantly back to pre-pandemic levels, and that’s why it’s important to make smart decisions to avoid missing out on key financial protection, so by booking an Atol-protected holiday, consumers know they can then relax, knowing they won’t be left out of pocket should their travel firm collapse.”
“Our top tips will also help many travellers stay savvy and financially protected on their next package holiday.”
Among the tips, the Atol department suggests people research their travel company and planned trip before booking, particularly if it is a company they haven’t travelled with before, and shop around with other providers to check it really is a good deal.
They should also check the web address is legitimate and has not been altered by slight changes to a domain name – such as going from co.uk to .org.
People should also not reply to unsolicited emails, texts, social media or calls with holiday offers. Links and attachments in emails may lead to malicious websites or download viruses.
Consumers are also advised to book a package that offers consumer protection rather than organising flights and accommodation separately.