IF you have ever booked a holiday you've probably heard the term "Atol protected" – but do you know what it means?

Atol protection is really important and can save you a lot of cash if something goes wrong with your holiday.

We've rounded up everything you need to know about Atol protection.

What does an Atol protected holiday mean?

By law, every UK travel company that sells package holidays and flights is required to hold an Atol certificate, which stands for Air Travel Organiser’s Licence.

If a travel company with an Atol certificate collapses, the scheme protects customers who have booked package holidays with them, making sure they don't get stranded abroad or end up out of pocket.

It's designed to make sure the money that customers invest in a holiday is safe, and it helps them if their travel agent goes bust – like Thomas Cook or Monarch.

Atol protection doesn't apply if you buy your flights directly from your airline, and flight-only bookings through a travel agent are not always protected under the scheme – so make sure you always ask.

After Monarch collapsed, those who booked a package holiday were Atol protected and were able to get their money back in time.

Primera Air was a Danish-registered airline and wasn't part of the Atol Protection scheme, which covers only passengers booked on package holidays.

After it collapsed on October 1, 2018, its stranded customers couldn't claim compensation because of its lack of Atol protection.

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Does Atol protection cover flights only?

If you book separate flights and accommodation from different suppliers, you might not be fully protected if things go wrong.

The scheme originally covered flights and package holidays only, but the scheme was extended in 2012 to recognise the rise of people buying holidays online.

So now, you are covered if you book a "flight plus accommodation" through the same company but from different suppliers.

For example, if you booked a package holiday through Monarch, which went into administration in October 2017, you will be Atol-protected.

However, if you booked only your flights with Monarch then it's likely you weren't protected by Atol.

How much does Atol protection cost and is it worth it?

Atol protection doesn't cost anything extra for the customer directly – it's included in the cost of the holiday.

Travel agents must pay £2.50 for each person they book on a holiday into the scheme.

The money goes into a fund used by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to make sure consumers can either complete their holiday or receive a full refund.

How do I know if my holiday is Atol protected?

When you book a holiday, the Atol holder or their agent must give you a certificate confirming you are Atol protected as soon as you hand over any money – including a deposit – for a holiday or flight.

Make sure you keep all the relevant paperwork in case you need to make a claim.

Be warned, the protection only covers British-based firms, so it's vital to check.

Some travel companies display the Atol logo on their websites even though they don't offer financial protection.

To check it's genuine, look for a number on the logo and check it out on the CAA's website.

You should be wary if the travel provider has no Atol number, or if the number doesn't have four or five digits.

If you aren't sure about the website, don't book through it.

Another key term Brits should be aware of is Abta, which is different from Atol.

While Atol protects flight-based packages, Abta protects everything else such as cruise or self-drive trips.

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