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ABTA says big increase in medical costs abroad makes travel insurance even more essential

ABTA – The Travel Association is reminding customers travelling overseas to take out travel insurance as soon as they book their trip, after data shows the medical costs travellers without insurance could face have risen substantially since 2019.

People requiring an air ambulance will now find that the cost of being flown safely home on a long haul flight will now cost more than twice the amounts charged in 2019.

In some instances customers who have fallen seriously ill or had a major accident will need to be flown home in an air ambulance, with the necessary high quality medical assistance. In 2019, an air ambulance from the European Union back to the United Kingdom cost between €15,000-20,000 - this rose in 2023 to between €25,000 and 30,000. Worldwide costs are even higher, rising in 2019 from €35,000-40,000 to in 2023 €75,000-85,000*, more than doubling.

These air ambulance and other medical costs should be covered by a comprehensive travel insurance policy. 

Customers may sometimes rely solely on the General Health Insurance Card (GHIC) , which allows UK citizens access to state medical care in the EU and a handful of other destinations. However, not all of these services are provided free of charge and air ambulance costs are not covered by GHIC, nor is the UK government under any obligation to cover any medical costs. This means that if you don’t have travel insurance, then you are liable to pay the full costs yourself, along with any other medical treatment.

ABTA is encouraging people to take out travel insurance as soon as they book their trip – that way you are covered straight away, including if you have to cancel for an unforeseen reason, like illness.

It is also important to check that any activities you plan to do are covered by the policy and specialist insurance for activities such as winter sports is purchased. Customers should also always declare any pre-existing medical conditions at the time of taking out the insurance policy or risk invalidating their cover.

Graeme Buck, ABTA’s Director of Communications, said: 

“Every year we see very sad stories of uninsured people who have fallen ill or had an accident whilst overseas and are running up large medical bills. 

“They often resort to setting up a Go Fund Me page or similar, but they will now find they need to raise substantially more money, with air ambulance and other medical costs having gone through the roof.

“It is simply not worth the risk of financial ruin, simply to save a few pounds, so always take out travel insurance at the time of booking your holiday or other travel arrangements.”

Jennifer Anderson, Director for Consular & Crisis, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said:

“Travelling without insurance can be expensive and distressing if things do go wrong when you are abroad. 

“The good news is that purchasing the right travel insurance does not take long and could save you a lot of money and stress. 

“I encourage anyone booking travel to make sure your travel insurance covers the places you visit, the duration of your visit and any planned activities and do disclose any medical conditions so your cover remains valid.”

The Air Ambulance costs were provided by AXA Assistance UK Ltd

*Approximates to @£65,000--£74,000 at an average exchange rate of €1 £0.87 in 2023

Notes to editors

ABTA is a trade association for UK travel agents, tour operators and the wider travel industry. We’re the largest travel trade body, with over 4,600 travel brands in membership who have a combined pre-pandemic annual UK turnover of £40 billion. We work closely with our members to help raise and maintain standards and build a more sustainable travel industry, and provide travellers with advice, guidance and support.

Our members sign up to a code of conduct and commit to agreed service standards and fair trading. When you need clear travel information, and accurate and impartial advice relating to your trip, we’re here for you. When you book with an ABTA member, reliable advice comes as standard. This means that booking with our members brings peace of mind.

All this together means we help you travel with confidence. www.abta.com

What is ABTA and how does it work?

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When it comes to booking holidays, one thing you should always look out for is whether your holiday is ABTA (and ATOL) protected. But what does that actually mean? In today’s post I will be looking into ABTA – what it is, what it means and what they do. So if you’re looking for more information about ABTA and how it works, look no further!

What does ABTA stand for?

ABTA technically stands for Association of British Travel Agents , which was the previous name of the organisation ; its full name is now ‘ABTA, The Travel Association’ which it has been since July 2007. The name change happened to better reflect the organisation’s wider representation of the travel industry as a whole.

What does ABTA do?

If your holiday is ABTA-protected, that means you’re entitled to protection if anything goes wrong. Specifically, ABTA protection relates to UK-based holidays that don’t include or involve flights – basically, land or sea based holidays are covered by ABTA. So if you book a rail, coach or cruise package holiday through an ABTA member, then your holiday (and the money you spent on it!) are covered. 

The main issue that ABTA protects travellers and holidaymakers from is the unlikely event of the travel company they’ve booked through going bust in the run up to, or during, the trip. Everything will be refunded if you are yet to go on your travels, and if you’re already there when they news breaks then your transport home will be covered thanks to ABTA.

Read also: The 7 stages of trip planning

Luckily, with ABTA there is an easy process to follow if something like this happens, as it can get confusing when it comes to which company affects which part of your holiday . For example, if you booked through a travel agent and they go out of business then this won’t have any effect on your trip as they’re simply a middle man. But if the tour operator themselves have gone out of business, this is where it becomes more of an issue. The ABTA website can help you work out if your holiday has gone to pot and also provide you with everything you need to make a claim.

What else does ABTA do?

There is a code of conduct that ABTA members must abide by  – the rules surround issues such as:

• Fair terms of trading
• Accurate advertising
• How to manage customer complaints,
• Any changes to holiday bookings
• The correct paperwork to provide travellers and holidaymakers with.

For example, if significant changes are made to your travel arrangements, such as dates and hotels being switched, ABTA rules state that the customer must be given the choice of a refund if they’re not happy with the new itinerary. Another example lies with building work: if there’s nearby building work being done that will ‘seriously impair’ your holiday, a suitable alternative must be sorted out for you. 

ABTA members must also offer advice and/or assistance when it comes to visas and passports, as well as health concerns when it comes to travelling. If there’s a significant delay, customers must be offered a refund if they no longer want to/are able to travel. If ABTA members don’t play by the rules they can face sanctions from the organisation, too.

How do I know if the travel company I’ve booked through is ABTA-protected?

Unfortunately, the ABTA website does not provide a definitive list of all the travel companies that are ABTA members. However, that’s not to say you can’t find out – head to their website and type in the name of the company or organisation you have booked through to confirm that they are a member of ABTA. Most registered companies will have the logo displayed on their site and any correspondence, but it’s still worth double checking on the ABTA site as some companies have been known to try and fool potential customers by claiming to be an ABTA member. This is rare, though, so you should be fine.

A few more things to note about ABTA

Make sure you keep hold of any and all correspondence between you and your travel company in case you need to make any sort of complaint or appeal to ABTA following a lack of reply from the company you booked with in the event of an issue. You also still need to take out travel insurance for your holiday even if your trip is ABTA-protected, to ensure medical issues and personal effects/belongings are covered too.

So there you have it – you’re a bit more clued up on what ABTA is than you were before. Hopefully your next holiday will run smoothly but just in case, ABTA are there to ensure any issues get sorted.

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'tell us what you want from the next government' – abta.

The Abta-led Future Travel Coalition (FTC) is urging the travel trade to come forward with its key priorities for the next government to inform its pre-election activity.

The FTC is seeking insight and feedback from member businesses through its latest biannual state of the industry survey launched on Thursday (25 April), with a general election likely in the second half of the year.

The latest survey will seek to establish the outlook for bookings, understand any recruitment challenges, and gauge level and status of debt taken on by the trade during the pandemic.

Some 14 associations comprise the FTC, including Aito, the Advantage Travel Partnership, the Travel Network Group, Clia, the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association and Seasonal Businesses in Travel.

Members of all 14 associations are invited to participate . The deadline for responses is 10 May. Abta said the findings would be used by coalition partners to support their ongoing engagement with government official and politicians of all parties.

Luke Petherbridge, Abta’s director of public affairs, said: "Our biannual surveys play an incredibly important role in ensuring we have the evidence and data required to engage with officials and ministers.

"I would urge everyone to support the survey and to provide feedback on booking trends, as well as the latest conditions for recruitment and staffing."

Abta last week set out its Manifesto for Travel and Tourism with the aim of seeking the change needed to position the UK as a leader in sustainable travel; promote careers within travel and tourism; and create the conditions for the travel industry to compete successfully.

One of its key aims, to strike up a youth mobility arrangement with the EU following the end of posted working, edged closer last week after the EU Commission put forward a proposal to kick off talks over a youth mobility scheme .

Petherbridge wrote for TTG on the issue earlier this week, claiming Abta’s work has helped the industry "move the dial" on the issue .

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What is ABTA?

Over 60 million people travel from the UK most years for holidays or business. The vast majority enjoy smooth, trouble-free journeys. Sometimes, though, things go wrong.

Perhaps you don't receive the service you expected. Or your travel company runs into financial problems. ABTA may be able to give urgent spport. But few people know about the protection it offers.

Posted: 22/8/2022 | By Amanda Duffy

ABTA is the operating name of what was formerly known as the Association of British Travel Agents. Founded over 60 years ago, ABTA is the UK’s largest travel association, representing travel agents and tour operators. ABTA protection is designed to enforce standards and provide insurance for holidaymakers in the event of financial problems for travel companies.

What does ABTA do?

The name ABTA means that holidaymakers are afforded protection. It is specifically designed to cover holidays bought in the UK that don’t include flights. So, if you buy a land or sea based package holiday, such as a coach, rail or cruise holiday from an ABTA member, your money and holiday will be protected by ABTA’s financial protection scheme.

Need extra protection? Consider travel insurance for you and your family before you go.

What does abta protected mean.

ABTA protection means that if your travel company goes out of business, you will be entitled to a refund which includes hotel costs. If you are abroad, your transport home will be covered. It provides a quick, clear and simple process to follow, so you are able to continue your holiday as planned, or get your money back.

How else can ABTA offer protection?

ABTA also has a  Code of Conduct  which governs areas such as accurate advertising, fair terms of trading, changes to bookings and managing customer complaints, plus guidance on providing travellers with the right paperwork and handling complaints. An ABTA member cannot cancel your booking after the date for payment of the full price unless it is necessary to do so for reasons outside its control. If this happens, it must offer you the choice of getting all your money back or choosing alternative travel arrangements. Moreover, if there is a significant change to your travel arrangements they must offer you the choice of accepting the changed travel arrangements or getting your money back.

All ABTA members have to abide by its code and those that breach it can face sanctions from the organisation.

What is the difference between ABTA and ATOL?

ATOL  (Air Travel Organiser’s Licensing) sits alongside ABTA but is specifically designed to cover people who fly. Whereas ABTA covers rail, road, or sea travel holidays. Many ABTA tour operators also provide bonds to the Civil Aviation Authority under the ATOL scheme.

How do I know if I’m covered by ABTA?

You should always check your travel company is ATOL and ABTA protected. Check your receipt shows the name of the company that's providing the holiday service - for example, the tour operator. Where your holiday services are being provided by more than one company, you should receive a separate receipt for each service. Ensure that the name that appears on the receipt is the name of the company to which the payment is made.

This information should also be clearly listed on company websites and covered on the certificates that are legally provided. Be sure to take your protection certificate in case of an emergency while you’re away.

How to make a complaint to ABTA

If you’ve been unable to resolve your issues with your tour operator or received no reply from them within 28 days you can appeal to ABTA. It provides an arbitration scheme and will apply its strict guidelines.

To complain go to ABTA’s online complaints hub

You will need to provide all documentation and copies of all relevant correspondence. ABTA will reply within seven days and attempt to resolve your dispute.

Do I still need travel insurance if a company is covered by ABTA?

Even if a company is an ABTA member you still need to take out  personal holiday insurance  covering personal effects, delays and medical issues.

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What are ATOL & ABTA and what do they mean for you?

• Passenger Rights

Buying a flight or holiday in this day and age is a breeze; you have an idea of where you want to go, you have a little rummage around on Google Flights, Skyscanner or a package holiday comparison site to get the best prices (maybe you’ve even joined 1,500,000 others in signing up to our free weekly flight deals newsletter), and you go ahead and book.

In 99 times out of 100 you’ll have a relatively hassle-free trip , with little need for any protection for your money or belongings. But what of that one time the company you’ve booked with goes out of business ( like Monarch did in 2017 ), your flights are cancelled (a daily occurrence) or you’re stranded abroad for whatever reason?

ATOL or ABTA protection can help, but what do these letters mean and what types of flights or holidays do they apply to? How do you know if you’re protected or not? How far will travel insurance get you?

Let us answer your burning questions below.

What does ATOL protected mean and what does it include?

ATOL stands for A ir T ravel O rganiser’s L icense. Every UK travel company (online travel agents, tour operators, etc) is legally required to hold an ATOL certification. If you are ATOL protected, then it ensures you will be looked after if the travel company you booked with goes out of business. In short, you’ll be flown home if you’re already on holiday and be fully compensated should your holiday be cancelled before you’ve started it.

Are flight-only bookings covered by ATOL?

Generally speaking, no. ATOL protection only tends to cover package or adventure holidays (flights + accommodation, flights + car hire or a combination of all three). Some flights may be covered, such as charter flights or flights where you pay in instalments (i.e., you don’t receive a ticket immediately after booking - some OTAs work in this manner by default). In all cases, read the small print on your airline’s T&Cs.

To quote the small print from Ryanair’s T&Cs page, flights booked directly from an airline are not ATOL protected, even if you book accommodation through a link from the airline’s website. They do, however, state that booking a flight using a credit card can offer you a degree of financial protection, so consider using one to book your flights, especially more expensive long-haul flights. Be sure to also check your credit card company’s T&Cs as well as those of your online travel agent should you book via one.

On the other hand, while BA does not provide ATOL protection for flights alone, you’ll be fully covered if you combine them with accommodation as a part of your booking, so company policy can vary.

Do I need ATOL protection for my flight or trip?

It depends on a number of factors. For example, how expensive your flights are and what you can afford to lose out on should something go wrong, as well as the size and reputation of the airline you book with. If booking with an obscure or financially struggling airline, then you are at a greater risk of losing out. More mainstream, solvent carriers shouldn’t present a problem, though. Again, using a credit card can offer an extra degree of protection here.

Note: ATOL protection has to be provided by law for holidays sold with elements such as experiences, accommodation, etc. included.

If I book with an online travel agent (OTA) and they go out of business, is my flight protected?

As stated on the CAA website , ATOL does not apply to most flights booked with online travel agents. That being said, your itinerary exists with the airline itself (your OTA will provide a reference number which you can then use to access your booking on the airline’s website). This means that, even if the OTA you booked with goes out of business before your departure or return date, you’ll still have your seat on the flight(s) as normal.

What happens if my flight is cancelled, but the airline has not gone out of business?

If a flight is cancelled it is the airline’s responsibility to ensure that you are booked onto the next available flight free of charge . If you’re flying to or from the EU you’ll be entitled to compensation in the value of your original flight, especially if it’s thrown other arrangements into disarray.

What does ABTA protected mean and what does it include?

ABTA (the A ssociation of B ritish T ravel A gents) offers broadly the same level of protection as ATOL. However, ABTA applies to holidays purchased in the UK that don’t include flights, that is to say rail, cruise and self-drive holidays. This means that if you purchase a flight to your holiday origin point separately, this will not be covered by ABTA (or, most likely, ATOL, if it’s flight-only). You will be financially compensated should anything go wrong with the land or sea-based element of your trip, but it could mean you have to pay for flights home, so do bear this in mind if combining a flight-only booking with one of the above types of holiday.

When should I take ATOL/ABTA flight-protection into consideration?

If you’re booking multi-city flights with time in between for land or sea-based adventure holiday or combining a return flight booking with a separate non-flight adventure or package holiday, then you’ll be ABTA protected for the non-flight elements but most likely not covered for the airborne parts. Book with a credit card to ensure you get some degree of financial protection.

Note: Do keep in mind that many reputable tour operators covered by ABTA will have bonds with the CAA that oversees the ATOL scheme, so ask if this is the case at the time of booking.

How do I know if I’m covered by ATOL or ABTA?

UK and European law requires all registered travel businesses to be ATOL licensed in the countries in which they operate. All licensed organisations will carry the ATOL protected logo on their website. Here are some things to look out for to ensure you’re covered:

• ATOL protected logo plus unique CAA license number (4-5 digits usually with a T at the start)
• The CAA’s ATOL checking page that highlights companies falsely claiming to hold a license. All licensed companies are registered with the CAA so can be found here.

The same applies for ABTA protection. You can search for the company you plan to book with on ABTA’s member search page to ensure that they, and more importantly you, are covered.

Do I need to take out travel insurance if I’m ATOL or ABTA protected?

If you want to be fully insured for the things that ATOL and ABTA don't cover, such as medical expenses and your personal belongings , you'll still need travel insurance on top.

Travel insurance covers these elements even for flight-only bookings. The choice, however, is yours and you’ll want to make sure you aren’t paying over the odds for something you don’t feel you’ll need.

Still have questions? Feel free to drop us a message on [email protected]   and we'll be happy to help.

Please note, while we do have links to other websites in our articles, none are affiliate links and we do not benefit from you clicking on them, we just think they are a good resource :)

Tristan is an avid traveller and Chief Flight Hacker at Jack's Flight Club. He's currently waiting on the next great deal to tour Southeast/East Asia. When he isn't on the go he lives in Glasgow, Scotland with his dog.

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