What are the Package Travel Regulations (PTRs)?
The Package Travel Regulations (PTRs), formally the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, are the UK legal framework protecting consumers who buy packaged travel combining two or more elements, such as a flight and hotel, from a single trader. They cover pre-contract information, liability for the performance of the whole package, insolvency protection and cancellation rights.
How the Package Travel Regulations work
The PTRs define what counts as a "package" as opposed to a lighter "linked travel arrangement", and set out different obligations for each. Where a trader is classed as an organiser of a package, it takes responsibility for the performance of the whole trip, even where individual elements such as flights or accommodation are supplied by third parties. Organisers must give customers clear pre-booking information and must have insolvency protection in place, commonly delivered through mechanisms such as ABTA Bonding or an ATOL certificate where flights are involved, so customer money and repatriation costs are covered if the business fails.
How UK travel businesses use the PTRs in practice
- A tour operator combining flights and accommodation into a single price for a customer is classed as an organiser under the PTRs and takes responsibility for the performance of the whole package.
- A travel agency that lets a customer separately select and pay for flights and a hotel through linked online bookings may fall under linked travel arrangement rules rather than full package rules, with different but related obligations.
- An SME travel business updates its booking terms and pre-contract information to meet PTR disclosure requirements before taking a customer's first payment.
- An operator maintains insolvency protection arrangements, such as ABTA bonding or a trust account, to satisfy PTR requirements protecting customer money.
How Advantage helps travel businesses stay PTR compliant
Advantage's EdgeVoyage accelerator helps travel and tour operators manage the booking data, customer communications and financial protection evidence that Package Travel Regulations compliance depends on, within a single Dynamics 365 environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as a package under the PTRs?
A package is generally a combination of at least two different types of travel service, such as transport, accommodation or car hire, for the same trip, sold or arranged by one trader for a single price or as a bundled offer. The exact rules depend on how the booking is presented and paid for.
Do the Package Travel Regulations apply to online travel agents?
It depends on how bookings are structured. Where a customer separately selects and pays for elements such as flights and a hotel through linked online bookings, this may fall under the lighter "linked travel arrangement" rules rather than full package rules, though related obligations still apply.
What happens if a tour operator becomes insolvent under the PTRs?
The PTRs require organisers to have insolvency protection in place, such as bonding, a trust account or insurance. This protection is intended to ensure customers receive refunds for cancelled trips or, if already travelling, are brought home if the organiser becomes insolvent.
