The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangement Regulations 2018 are a set of legal regulations created by the government to protect consumers on holiday.
As you might expect, the Package Travel Regulations will only protect package holidays and linked travel arrangements, and these must be over 24 hrs or include overnight stay, so if you’re booking holiday elements individually, you will not be protected by the PTRs.
This specific version of the PTRs was put into action on the 1st of July 2018, so anything booked before then won’t be protected by these PTRs but by the 1992 PTRs. All travel businesses must comply with the PTRs as well, so if you are booking a package holiday or linked travel arrangement, these will pretty much always apply.
There are a few things to keep in mind concerning what the PTRs won’t protect you for. Some of this can depend on the specific booking, but that’s rare. For the most part, these are the things to be aware of:
- Individually booked elements – if you book a flight, and then book accommodation with a different company, without being lead there by the original company, and through a separate contract, this isn’t a package, so it won’t be protected.
- If you book with a non-UK company – the PTRs only cover travel booked with a company based and selling in the UK.
- If you are booking a business trip
- If your package holiday lasts under 24 hours and does not include overnight stay
- If you book a flight and a tour element and the tour element is not a significant portion of the package
A package holiday is a holiday consisting of two or more elements paid for as one holiday, under one contract. Elements being holiday aspects as below:
- Flights or other transport
- Car Hire
- Accommodation
- Tour experiences (this includes things such as cooking classes, hiking trips, tours, etc.)
Some things might fit multiple. For example, a cruise ship is transport, accommodation, and the tour experience, unless there is arranged accommodation at the cruise’s destinations, which would be part of the package.
All package holidays will be financially and legally protected by the Package Travel Regulations.
A linked travel arrangement is similar to a package holiday in structure. It consists of two or more elements as listed above. However, where it differs is financially and protection wise.
A linked travel arrangement may not fall under one contract or one payment. Say you buy a flight, then after you get a confirmation email, you get a targeted email offering accommodation for the same destination and same time as your flight. If you book this accommodation within 24 hours of booking the flight, then this becomes a linked travel arrangement.
The PTRs will protect you in a variety of situations if anything should go wrong with your package holiday once you have booked it. They also set out obligations for the travel company to follow so that you are prepared.
The situations in which the PTRs will protect you include but may not be limited to:
- If you need to cancel for unexpected and extraordinary circumstances
- If you wish to transfer your contract to someone else, or they wish to transfer to you
- If there is political unrest in your destination
- If your package is not performed as agreed
- If a supplier or travel company goes bust after you have booked
- If there is an unpredictable or extraordinary occurrence while you are on holiday
- If there is a situation resulting from the travel company not fulfilling all their legal obligations
Take a Look at Other Related Topics
If you’ve looked into good protection in travel before, it’s almost certain that you’ve heard the term ‘package holidays’ a fair few times. Being one of the easiest forms of protection to achieve, and one of the simplest ways to book your next holiday, we at PTS, the CAA, and many others in travel always highly recommend that consumers book a package holiday instead of booking individually.
Since July 1st 2018, the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations have been protecting consumers across the UK while on holiday. This guide has been written to break down all aspects of the Package Travel Regulations, explaining exactly what they are and how they apply to you, as well as answering any questions you may have.