Package travel
In the UK, anyone who (other than occasionally) sells or offers for sale package holidays must comply with the Package Travel Regulations 1992.
The Regulations set out travel organisers’ responsibilities to their customers and the remedies available should there be a breach of the Regulations.
They define a package as something which:
- is a pre-arranged combination of at least two services
- is sold or offered for sale at an inclusive price
- covers a period of more than twenty-four hours or includes overnight accommodation
- includes at least two of the following components: transport, accommodation or other significant tourist services (not ancillary to transport or accommodation)
What is a Package?
The Department's January 2008 guidance note, "What is a package?" is based substantially on the Court of Appeal's judgment in The Association of British Travel Agents v Civil Aviation Authority, [2006] EWCA Civ 1356. That judgment identified that, in determining whether a package is being sold, a key question will often be whether the relevant travel services are sold as components of a pre-arranged combination or as separate services. This is likely to require consideration on a case by case basis.
The Queen's Bench Divisional Court of the High Court recently considered these issues in Civil Aviation Authority v Travel Republic Limited, [2010] EWHC 1151. The High Court sought to apply the reasoning of the Court of Appeal to the facts of the Travel Republic case. In that case the Court, in rejecting an appeal by the CAA, confirmed that the way in which Travel Republic sold arrangements for leisure travel did not amount to a "package" as defined in the Civil Aviation (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing) Regulations 1995 (as amended) (ATOL Regulations). For the purposes of coverage by the Package Travel Regulations "package" is defined in the same way as in the Atol regulations.
What is a package? A guidance note for travel organisers (PDF, 251KB)
The Package Travel Regulations - question and answer guidance for organisers and retailers (PDF, 163KB)
Advice for consumers is given in our Package travel fact sheet
Guidance for Tour Operators: Disruption of package holidays by unusual and unforeseeable circumstances (PDF, 124 Kb)
Hajj and Umrah pilgrims
If you are thinking of booking a Hajj or Umrah trip you should ensure that you read the important information provided in our leaflet:
The Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages: important information for booking a pilgrimage package (PDF, 62KB)
Hajj and Umrah travel organisers
If you are an organiser of trips to the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages - please read our leaflet setting out your responsibilities under the law:
The Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages: important information for organisers of package trips (PDF, 43KB)
Holidays during school breaks
The holiday market in the UK is very competitive and the industry generally operates on quite thin margins. Like any business, the travel industry must adapt its pricing strategy to prevailing market conditions, including peaks and troughs in demand.
UK school holidays coincide with summer and other breaks across Europe. Demand for flights and accommodation in the popular destinations is consequently very high during this period. This increased competition inevitably results in higher costs for the holiday organisers and higher prices for consumers.
It can be very difficult for consumers to spot a good deal on a family holiday during the school holiday periods. In order to help raise consumer awareness of the deals that are available, the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO), has launched a dedicated School Holidays webpage to advertise holiday offers from their members over the school holiday periods. These may include, holidays with free child places or early booking discounts. Other tour operaters also often provide discounted deals on school holiday breaks, check their web-sites or contact a travel agent.
