Britons out of pocket after travel firm folds

Published on 13/08/2010 17:14

Holidaymakers were yesterday having to pay for their overseas accommodation for a second time following the collapse of tour operator Sun4U.

The Birmingham-based company ceased trading on Wednesday night, with about 1,200 UK holidaymakers abroad, mostly in Spain.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) warned that Sun4U-booked travellers arriving overseas may find their airport transfers and booked accommodation unavailable to them.

Some of these are covered by the CAA-run Atol (Air Travel Operators' Licensing) scheme and will be able to carry on with their holidays and travel home.

But Sun4U also organised flight-only and accommodation-only trips which are not covered by the Atol arrangement.

Also, the CAA said that even if holidaymakers' trips were Atol-covered, "hotels and accommodation agents may require customers who are abroad on holiday to pay again for their accommodation".

The CAA said that Atol-covered holidaymakers would be able to claim this money back from the CAA.

Patricia Cambridge said her daughter was asked to pay again for her half-board holiday.

"She was told they would have to pay 438 for the self-catering holiday, plus €10 (8] a day if they wanted half-board.

"They'd actually booked a half-board holiday and paid Sun4U for that."

The CAA advised those Atol-protected customers who found their airport transfer and accommodation had become unavailable to make their own arrangements and then send a claim to the CAA.