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BTA – The Travel Association has released new fi ndings, revealing that nearly three quarters (73 per cent) of UK families expect a company that organises school travel to be an ABTA Member.
February 2019 Travel News
School trips should have ABTA back-up A
There are more than 100 school travel organisers who are ABTA Members and booking through a school travel specialist allows teachers to access the company’s expertise, knowledge and insight in developing an enjoyable educational experience. ABTA approved travel companies also have access to the association’s support and expertise – including 24 hour crisis support – and schools can benefi t from ABTA’s advice and its independent complaints process should they need it.
Booking an overnight school trip as a package - where a travel company organises the diff erent travel services - provides the greatest overall protection. Under the Package Travel Regulations (PTRs) the travel company is responsible for sorting out any problems, (only trips lasting more than 24 hours, or including an overnight stay, are covered under the Package Travel Regulations), and making sure that if the trip can’t go ahead for any reason either an alternative is off ered or a full refund provided. In addition, if the travel company goes out of business before the trip starts pupils will get their money back and, where the trip included transport, will be brought home at no additional cost if they are already away. It’s also important for schools to be aware that if a school organises a trip themselves by arranging their own bookings for transport, accommodation and other services, they might be liable under the PTRs. This means that they would have all of the responsibilities of a travel company – both legal and fi nancial. There have been cases where children’s school trips were cancelled and parents lost money when the trip
ABTA’s top tips for schools arranging a trip:
• Reassure parents with careful planning and clear communication throughout the trip, from the point of booking to the moment of return. • Check the Foreign Commonwealth Offi ce Travel Advice for the country you intend to visit at an early stage of planning for the trip, as well as closer to the departure date.
New fi ndings have revealed that 73% of UK familes expect a company that organise school travel to be an ABTA member
was not covered by the PTRs. Last year pupils from a school in Kent lost tens of thousands of pounds raised for a package trip to Mount Kilimanjaro, when the company arranging the expedition collapsed fi nancially3.
Victoria Bacon, ABTA’s Director of Brand and Business Development, said:
“School trips provide pupils with lifelong memories and often an opportunity to explore a place they’ve never been to before. However, it can be a time consuming and sometimes daunting process for teachers to arrange these trips, and the new Package Travel Regulations
means that if a trip is booked in a certain way, the school could be held liable should there be a problem. “There are lots of ABTA school travel specialist companies who can take these responsibilities off the hands of teachers and pull together a trip which provides a great education experience as well as off ering the support, protection and expertise that comes with booking with an ABTA approved travel company. “With this peace of mind teachers can travel with
confi dence, knowing their students are in good hands and able to enjoy their travel experience to the full.” All School Travel Forum (STF) Members, which
• Ensure that all those travelling have adequate travel insurance. Check that any specifi c or unusual activities are covered.
• Check passport and visa requirements well in advance. Ensure that everyone has a valid passport and that they have enough time left on them before they expire. Some countries require a minimum of six months’ time prior to expiry.
• Ask to see your chosen tour operator’s health and safety credentials and check they acknowledge the importance of maintaining these standards throughout the trip.
• Book arrangements with an ABTA Member to
benefi t from the protection, support and expertise they provide
Coleraine Travel Counsellor is ‘Honeymoon Planner of the Year’
COLERAINE travel specialist Briege McAuley has been named Honeymoon Planner of the Year at the prestigious Northern Ireland Wedding Awards 2019.
Briege, who runs her own business as part of leading independent travel company, Travel Counsellors, won the award at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Belfast, on January 27, 2019. Speaking on her win, Briege said: “It is an incredible honour to be awarded the 2019 Honeymoon Planner of the Year. This is all the more special as it’s based on genuine client testimonials. The creation of the perfect honeymoon experience
is my passion, and for my clients to acknowledge this, means so much to me.”
is a professional trade association for school travel, are required to be ABTA Members.
Gill Harvey of the School Travel Forum said: “While organising a school trip can be seen by some education providers as stressful and time consuming, there are ways to streamline the process and recruit third party help to ensure the trip runs smoothly.
“Research shows that travel helps children to develop their sense of independence, experience new cultures and bond with their classmates. Booking with an STF Member, which is also an ABTA Member, will provide teachers and parents alike with the confi dence of a safe and successful trip.”
Briege McAuley, winner of the Northern Ireland Wedding Awards 2019 ‘Honeymoon Planner of the Year’ Award
Aer Lingus reveals its new logo and livery
AER Lingus has revealed a refreshed brand with updated logo and new aircraft livery, which the airline said refl ected its position as ‘a modern and contemporary Irish brand that competes on the international stage’. The airline said the new brand identity supported its ambition to become the leading value carrier across the North Atlantic. The fi rst Airbus A330 to sport the new logo took to the skies on Friday, January 18, 2019. Flight EI105 was met by a reception at New York’s JFK Airport.
The new logo retains the iconic shamrock, but a tilt has been added ‘to symbolise dynamism and speed’ said the airline, and the leaves have become more heart-shaped ‘to refl ect the
warmth and hospitality of the brand’. The Aer Lingus logo font has changed to ‘diodrum’ and the dominant colour is teal. The body of the new look Aer Lingus aircraft will be white with a teal-coloured tail and engines. The teal undercarriage means that Aer Lingus will be instantly recognisable from the ground, according to the airline.
The brand refresh is being rolled out across all brand platforms, with a new website design and new app design. The refresh is part of the airline’s ambitious growth plan, which includes expanding its transatlantic fl eet from 17 to 30 aircraft by 2023. Overall, Aer Lingus plans to grow its A330 fl eet to 16 aircraft (from 13 in 2017) and invest in 14 new A321LRs.
The launch of the new Aer Lingus livery and logo at Dublin Airport
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