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CAA extends Refund Credit Note protection
The CAA has extended ATOL protection for Refund Credit Notes, but only for another month until the end of January 2021.
Protection for RCNs had originally been due to expire at the end of this month but the CAA said it had agreed an additional month’s protection until 31 January due to the ongoing Covid crisis.
The same conditions as previously advised to travel companies will apply to refund credit notes:
* They must be issued for a cancelled ATOL-protected booking
* The booking must have been cancelled by the tour operator due to the coronavirus pandemic
* The RCN must be able to be exchanged for cash at a later date
CAA Consumer Director Paul Smith said: "We are aware of the challenges the travel industry is facing, and we have therefore taken the exceptional decision to extend Atol protection for refund credit notes issued up to 31 January 2021.
But he said that ATOL holders must continue to also offer consumers the option of a full cash refund instead of a credit note, and RCNs must be converted to cash refunds if not used to rebook before 30 September 2021.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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