Jetline Travel, a major cruise and cheap package holiday provider based in London, has gone into administration potentially affecting thousands of British holidaymakers.
Jetline Travel, which also traded under Bargain Late Holidays, Cruise & More, Elegant Getaways and Jetline Cruise, and primarily sold cruises and package holidays as an agency ceased trading as an ATOL holder on March 6.
ATOL stands for Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing and is the financial protection scheme that protects UK travellers and their money if the travel company they booked with stops trading, before, or while they are on holiday. ATOL, run by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), also protects consumers when they book a package trip that includes a flight. According to UK law, whether you book through a tour operator or travel agent (online or in person), any air package holiday sold in the UK must be ATOL protected.
Jetline Travel had been trading since 2000 and held an ATOL for nearly 5,000 passengers. Acting as a cruise holiday agency, it had 800 forward bookings and the trips of 20 customers who are overseas could be cancelled.
According to UK Travel Weekly: “It is understood Jetline, which traded under multiple brands, had failed to pass on customer payments. It had been selling cruises both as a retailer and at net rates, making itself the principal on some bookings.”
UK Travel Weekly also claimed that an industry source with knowledge of the company described it as “doing a huge amount of business in the US”.
Princess Cruises, Cunard and Holland America, all operated by Carnival, and P&O Cruises are among the brands affected with Carnival announcing it was cancelling bookings made through Jetline in early March.
“We recognise how disappointing this news will be for affected guests and express our sincere apologies for the disruption caused. This decision was not made lightly,” Carnival said in a statement at the time.
“Customers with affected bookings have been contacted directly by their cruise line to advise of their booking status and are encouraged to contact Jetline Holidays directly.”
Holidaymakers who’ve booked a trip with an Atol provider should get their booking refunded if the firm goes out of business.
“If you have an ATOL flight inclusive package booking and have been issued with flight tickets, the flights may be valid for travel and you are advised to check with the airline. If the airline confirms you have a valid ticket for travel, you have the option to travel,” the UK CAA said in a statement.
“However, other services have not been paid to the local suppliers and you will be required to re-arrange and pay for these services again. To avoid any issues in resort, you should confirm the cost of all the services in advance of travel where possible. If you choose to travel and use your valid flight, you are not protected under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 as your package travel provider has ceased to trade.
“You will therefore be responsible for any risks arising from each individual element of your trip which would have previously been protected.”
