Package Travel Regulations Compliance Check

The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 apply to far more businesses than traditional travel agents. Any UK business that combines two or more travel elements — such as accommodation plus a flight, a car hire plus a hotel, or accommodation plus a bookable activity like a cookery class or wedding venue package — for the same trip, sold for a total price or as a linked arrangement, can be caught by the rules. This includes hotels, activity providers, wedding and events venues, and holiday cottage operators who bundle extras, not just registered travel agencies. Getting the classification wrong is a common and costly mistake, especially in the busy summer trading months when bundled offers are most common.

Businesses caught by the Regulations must provide mandatory pre-contract information, hold insolvency protection (such as bonding, insurance, or a trust account) to refund or repatriate customers if the business fails, and take legal responsibility for the proper performance of the whole package — even elements supplied by third parties. The Civil Aviation Authority and Trading Standards actively enforce these rules, and non-compliant businesses risk being unable to trade, facing fines, or being personally liable for a full refund if something goes wrong with any part of a customer’s trip. With the 2018 Regulations now under review by the Department for Business and Trade to reflect modern booking platforms and dynamic packaging, businesses that bundle travel-related services should check their current status carefully.

Use this free tool to check whether your business is selling a ‘package’ or ‘linked travel arrangement’ under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 — and whether your insolvency protection and customer disclosures meet the legal requirements.