Majority of Brits don't understand package travel protections

LTAs were created as part of an effort to protect bookings where individual travel or holiday elements are bought separately with the same retailer during a single visit to a shop or website, such as booking a hotel and then, without leaving the agency or website, booking a flight.

The CTSI’s aims include simplifying the information travel organisers provide their consumers about the type and level of protection that their booking carries, and ensuring consumers receive a clear warning on those occasions where a booking comes with no financial protection.

’Things need to change’

Bruce Treloar, CTSI lead officer for holiday and travel law, said 73% of respondents to the CTSI poll were unable to tell the difference between a package holiday and an LTA "even when they were given a definition". He added a separate stakeholder poll confirmed businesses don’t always realise when they are creating LTAs. "The vast majority think the definition of LTAs is problematic," said Treloar.

Treloar said the government’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill should seek to provide regulators greater enforcement powers to ensure consumers are provider better, simpler information about how their holidays are protected.

"There’s no doubt that package holidays and LTAs are a very complex issue but there needs to be greater protection and clearer information given to consumers when they book holidays," he said.

John Herriman, CTSI chief executive, said neither consumers nor consumers really understood LTAs. "It’s clear things need to change. We are calling on the government to either reform or scrap LTAs, so long as what is put in their place means that consumers are not detrimentally affected."