Financial Bonding & Protection
Our membership of ABTA means that we maintain a high standard of service to you and abide by ABTA's Code of Conduct. For more information on ABTA, the Code and the arbitration scheme available to you if you have a complaint, visit ABTA's website.
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ABTA and ATOL bonding
Alpine Answers is a member of ABTA. We hold both an ABTA Licence (D4050 and W2153) and also hold an ATOL Licence (ATOL 4791) which is issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. As a member of ABTA you have the benefit of ABTA's assistance and Code of Conduct. Many of the travel arrangements that we sell are protected in case of the financial failure of the travel company. Please ask us about the protection that applies to your booking.
You can make a booking through Alpine Answers in one of two ways:
1. As a travel agent
Your holiday is provided by disclosed tour operator/holiday company. Our ABTA bond protects your money whilst we hold it.
2. As a tour operator/principal
Your holiday is provided by Alpine Answers where we act as a tour operator. For flight inclusive holidays our ATOL licence protects your money.
1. Alpine Answers - the travel agent:
Many of the flights and flight-inclusive holidays on this website are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. However, ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services listed. Please ask us to confirm what protection may apply to your booking. If you do not receive an ATOL Certificate then the booking will not be ATOL protected. If you do receive an ATOL Certificate but not all the parts of your trip are listed on it, then only those parts detailed will be ATOL protected. For more information about financial protection and the ATOL Certificate go to: CAA website regarding ATOL Certificates. The supplier identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases where the supplier is unable to provide the booked services for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable).
If the supplier(s) identified on your ATOL Certificate are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of our relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme.
If you purchase a holiday (with a tour operator) that does not include a flight and which does not offer any other financial security (e.g. an ABTA or AITO bond) then we have the option to purchase an ABTA recommended insurance policy which offers financial cover up to £3,000 per person. The cost of this is £5.00pp - please call for further details.
2. Alpine Answers - the tour operator/principal:
Bookings containing a flight
When we create our own tailor-made package holiday for you and it contains a flight you are financially protected by the ATOL scheme. When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong.
We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable).
If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme.
Read our Booking Conditions (for flight inclusive package holidays and flight only bookings).
Bookings without a flight
If your booking consists of just one item (eg. accommodation only, or transfer only.) or if your booking is for accommodation plus airport transfers then please note: no financial protection applies to your booking. Read our Booking Conditions (non package bookings).
