CAA issues new advice to school trip organisers
Teachers and parents are being advised to check that any school trips involving air travel are fully protected by the ATOL scheme.
The CAA issued the warning as schools start organising class trips at the start of the new academic year.
It said it wants to prevent parents being left substantially out of pocket if the tour operator organising their children’s trip collapses.
Parents of children at one school were left with bills of £750 per head earlier this year after the school booked a trip with a non-ATOL operator that later collapsed, said the CAA.
Head of ATOL Andy Cohen said: "We have seen cases in the past where parents have been left to bear the brunt after a tour company has collapsed – and we’re investigating a number of other live situations.
"Whoever is responsible for booking a school trip, that involves a flight, should do a simple check that travel companies being used are fully ATOL protected. Parents can help by double-checking the details of any bookings."
The CAA has set up a dedicated ATOL webpage for the education sector, which gives targeted advice for anyone responsible for booking a school trip.
Cohen added: "As parents we know how expensive and time-consuming school trips can be to organise. To avoid landing parents with additional large travel expenses to get their children home, not to mention the stress and anxiety involved, we urge school trip organisers to spend time researching travel providers. It will be time well spent."
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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