hi ...understand what he is saying.....but isnt it the case most of the time that when you book with these companies thats exactly what they do....book your holiday in 3 seperate parts...with companies they are only agents for.......hence you land up paying for more expensive flights or accomodation when things do go wrong.....with a proper package I think its thier responsibility to give you the whole holiday youve paid for even if it meant giving you dearer flights accomodation ect......

Or have I got it wrong ?

but isnt it the case most of the time that when you book with these companies thats exactly what they do....book your holiday in 3 seperate parts...with companies they are only agents for

Not with AITO (Association of Independent Travel Operators) members it isn't which I think is his point - it's not size that matters but whether they are really selling you a proper package which is what in my experience any member of AITO that I've booked with has done. I haven't booked a package with any of the big TOs in a long time but I have used a number of small independent TOs for a number of years who do sell 'proper' packages and who have provided a really good service. The company I've booked most of my trips to Cuba with specialises in custom built packages and they provide excellent service as does the small company I've used that specialises in individual packages based on locally owned villas in rural western Crete. Also, the personal service that you get from such small independent operators is one of the pluses for me of this sector of the travel industry.

But neither of these, or any of the other small specialist companies that I've used are particularly cheap - the specialist, personal service they provide comes at a price - and the single common denominator of all the recent collapses from Excel onwards is that they are companies aimed at the budget end of the market. What matters is checking whether you are booking a proper package with a TO that is fully bonded, not the size of the company, so that you can assess the risks.

SM

thanks for tuning me in sma.....the problem is me and others find it difficult to tell the difference between the different types of TA's......when you go to book online there are so many....how do you tell one from the other......some are selling proper packages....some dynamic packages and some are selling 3 component holidays which we think are packages as they dont tell you any different...and we are non the wiser as novices untill something goes wrong ...and we are getting educated about whats what.....I have read and read really interested in learning about things.....and even I get confused......tweetie

ps...thing its time for legislation to make things clearer for us non experts when using internet TA's....like a statement on the main page and the final booking page that tells you exactly what your booking in plain english.....eg......full Atol protected package, you are covered for all 3 components via ATOL....3 indipendantly booked components , only flight covered by ATOL, in case of airline ect failure you are still liable for payment for other 2 components regardless of wether or not you can arrange alternative flights....atleaste if you go ahead and book a DIY that a TA booked on your behalf you know the score.

tweety

you could always check the AITO member list but as most are bespoke and specialist you may find them a bit expensive

yasus
wizard

thanks for info wizard.....wasnt so much for myself that I was posting.....but for all novice internet bookers....as unless you know about or are a member of HT you dont have a clue....as far as your concerned your just booking a holiday and youve got a good deal......and some are....and when things go wrong some of these online TA really do do thier best to sort you out......but if better informed some of us would opt for a complete package.....others are willing to risk it and accept only the flight being covered....but novices need to know more to choose who to book with...

How many times lately have we had posts from people saying they thought they had a package, ...but when problems arose found out they didnt.....some didnt even realise when invoice arrived with 3 seperate charges.....or 2 items on thier credit card statement, one to the online TA and one to an airline....and people arnt stupid they just dont understand the implications of booking in different ways....I didnt untill XL colapsed and read all the posts ect on here....been reading similar posts since and think even I could fall foul trying to book online...

The problem is if you know no different AITO TA/TO's and all the rest get seen as the same....as we just dont know the difference.....WELL I do now and so do others reading these post....and that link will be of great value to people