Ahead of Black Friday on 24 November, consumers are being urged to be on their guard against deals that seem too good to be true if they plan to book their next holiday this month.

ATOL research shows that 43% of us plan to book an overseas trip this autumn and with Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Travel Tuesday growing in popularity in the UK, airlines and travel companies are increasingly advertising deals on getaways.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority, which runs the ATOL scheme, urges consumers to check on the ATOL website and use the ‘check for ATOL’ tool to see if a holiday provider is ATOL licensed before booking a trip.

Other tips to avoid common travel scams include doing some online research to check the company you plan to book with is legitimate.

Black Friday deals

Consumers can also read feedback from sources they trust and navigate to a company’s official website by searching for them using a trusted search engine, rather than clicking on links in emails, texts or messages.

Michael Budge, head of ATOL at the UK Civil Aviation Authority said: “Over the Black Friday weekend, there can be many attractive deals offered by holiday companies, but consumers need to be wary.

“It is vital that people research thoroughly before booking, as there can be a risk of getting caught out by hidden costs and extras, or potentially fraudulent companies.

“We urge consumers to check for ATOL protection, book by credit card where possible and take out travel insurance to offer layers of financial protection for their next package trip.”
Subscribe to the FINN weekly newsletter

You may also be interested in:

Positive bookings to drive reservations back to pre-Covid levels – ATOL