Goldtrail collapse causes holiday chaos
Updated on 17 July 2010
Tens of thousands of holidaymakers have had their summer travel plans thrown into chaos after the collapse of the tour operator Goldtrail Travel.
The company which specialised in cut-price package holidays to Greece and Turkey, went into administration yesterday. Many passengers travelled to UK airports today, only to be told that their flights had been cancelled.
It's estimated that around 16,000 travellers have been stranded overseas as a result. However the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has confirmed it will make arrangements to fly customers home at the end of their holiday, as part of their ATOL scheme.
How to claim your money back
Holiday makers who've booked with Goldtrail and wish to get their money back will be able to download a claims form via the ATOL website.
The site at the moment does not have the claims form saying that details on how to claim a refund "will be posted onto this site by Monday 19 July 2010".
They do warn that the process is lengthy and could take several months to clear.
Click here to read CAA advice on making a claim re: Goldtrail Travel Ltd
Or call the CAA Helpline: 0844 856 2585
The CAA said:
"The CAA has taken steps to protect customers booked with Goldtrail Travel Limited after the company ceased trading this evening.
"Goldtrail Travel Ltd, trading as Goldtrail Holidays, Goldtrail Travel and Sunmar, held ATOL licence 4684 and was based in New Malden, Surrey. It operated flights and holiday packages from many UK airports to Turkey and Greece. It sold mainly through travel agents.
"The CAA, under its ATOL scheme, is making arrangements for customers abroad to travel home at the end of their holidays."
The CAA confirmed that the majority of flights home from Turkey will fly as usual, but that holiday makers in Greence could expect flight changes and advised those people to check at local airports.
The CAA said there were no more outbound Goldtrail flights and advised customers due to fly with the failed operator to check with their travel agent before leaving for the airport.
Goldtrail customers can call the CAA on 0203 4410846 for information.
One customer, Martin Plimmer, who booked flights through Goldtrail, said he faced losing the money spent on his accommodation if he was unable to stump up cash for new flights.
"We were told we would have to pay for any new flights and claim that back through the CAA as Goldtrail were ATOL-protected," he told the BBC.
"Our predicament was however that if we couldn't afford the flights we would lose the £1,500 that we paid for our all-inclusive hotel because it was through a different company."
Previously the travel firm Globespan and XL both collapsed leaving thousands stranded overseas.
An accident waiting to happen?
There has been some speculation in the industry that Goldtrail had been in some trouble.
Bill Munro, founder of Barrhead Travel said Goldtrail's collapse was "an accident waiting to happen" and the he had had misgivings about the firm for some time.
Mr Munro said: "We didn't sell their holidays unless someone came in and said 'sell me a holiday with Goldtrail to Turkey'.
"We couldn't not sell them but we didn't promote them."
When his staff heard the news about Goldtrail many of them came in early to work to offer their assistance to stranded Goldtrail customers. Outside his offices a queue of desperate travellers had formed all seeking new holiday bookings.
