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Airline Failure Protection

It is a little known fact that there is no consumer protection for the failure of a no-frills or scheduled airline, once the ticket has been issued.

Business Travel Plus is fully bonded, both with the Association of British Travel Agents, The international Air Transport Association and the Civil Aviation Authority via its ATOL bond. This protection only extends to customers monies before a tickets has been provided.

Whilst the risks to business travellers is relatively small; as the time between ticket purchase and travel is usually only short, the delicate world economy and the financial position of many of the worlds airlines, can again give rise for concern.

Airline failure is an insurable risk, and whilst some companies include the cost of airline failure insurance as a "no choice" additional charge, Business Travel Plus believes it should be the clients decision whether or not they underwrite this risk or take out insurance to cover this event.

Business Travel Plus includes airline failure cover on its insurance products, which can be purchased in conjunction with travel on a selective basis, where it might be felt appropriate. We would like to stress that whilst this is a relatively small risk to airlines with "national names", Sabena and Swiss Air both ceased to trade, leaving many passengers with worthless tickets.

Our policy of issuing tickets only when the journey has been finalised, minimises the exposure to this issue and highlights the dangers of direct bookings, particularly over the Internet, where a payment, usually in the form of a credit card, is required to complete the reservation.

Details on our insurance products may be obtained from our reservations department in the case of individual journeys or from Andrea Smith in our administration department in the case of annual and company group policies.