Brits looking for cheap holiday deals this Black Friday have been warned about falling foul of scams and deals that seem too good to be true.
Huge numbers of people are currently on the hunt for a bargain trip, with 46% of adults in the country actively seeking out a holiday this Black Friday, according to UK Civil Aviation Authority research.
Almost two-thirds of the 18-34-year-old age group are on the hunt.
Before leaping at the first bargain break that you find, make sure you check the deal carefully and be wary of scams to make sure there are no nasty surprises.
To offer a helping hand, the Civil Aviation Authority has revealed four important checks to make before you part with your cash - check them out below...
Watch out for hidden costs
Before booking a holiday it’s important to check there no hidden costs hiding in the terms and conditions or your bargain price will soon start to rise.
It's important to find out if the price includes baggage allowance and how much that'll cost if not.
Shop around with other providers to check it is a good deal and remember, holiday bargains can usually be found through the festive period and into the New Year.
Check to see if there there is any flexibility in the booking and whether parts of the holiday be amended in the future without incurring any extra costs,.
Look for where the seller is based – If it’s abroad and the deal is in a foreign currency, make sure to find out how much they are charging in pounds before booking to ensure you get a good rate, and double check your bank’s fees for paying in foreign currency.
Check for ATOL financial protection
Travel companies selling air package holidays in the UK are required to hold an ATOL (Air Travel Organiser’s Licence) and the scheme also applies to some flight bookings.
If an ATOL licensed travel company ceases trading, the scheme protects their package holiday customers, making sure they don’t get stuck abroad or lose money if they are yet to travel.
Some non-UK travel companies will be advertising their deals over the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales period to UK consumers; these companies should be ATOL licensed.
Before booking, you should always check that your travel provider is a legitimate ATOL holder and check that the holiday is ATOL protected. You can do this on caa.co.uk/atol-protection.
When you book, your travel company will provide you with an ATOL certificate, which tells you what you are protected against if your travel company ceases trading, and shows exactly which parts of your booking are ATOL protected.
Use a credit card when booking
Using a credit card should allow consumers to benefit from enhanced purchase protection under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act.
This means if you pay for your flight or hotel with a credit card and something doesn’t go to plan, in many cases your credit card issuer should provide you with your money back for purchases between £100-£30,000.
Get travel insurance
Travel insurance can provide extra protection if your holiday doesn’t work out quite as you intended.
It can protect you from range of mishaps relating to your trip from cancellations, missed transport and medical emergencies through to items lost or stolen when travelling.
Travel insurance is widely available online and the type of cover people need will vary so always carefully check the insurance terms and conditions for full details of cover.
- Find out more on caa.co.uk.
