Anne: ‘Who is the On Holiday Group, why should we trust you?'

Steve: ‘I'm the Chief Executive, I'm an old hand in terms of experience, for years I ran Airtours and all their tour operations, retail shops and call centres.

'We’re a wholesaler and we package up accommodation, flights, transfers and insurance. We sell to virtually every travel agent on the High Street. So Advantage, First Choice, Global This year we will carry about 600,000 people. On the transfer side we will do two million transfers for all the big airlines - easyjet, Monarch, most of the big retailers.

“You can now buy holidays from us at wholesale prices...”

'...a hotel bed, a flight, a transfer, travel insurance or you can buy a package.'

Anne: 'So if you normally sell to travel agents and we can buy direct then in theory it should be cheaper?'

Steve Endacott: 'Correct. No theory, it will be cheaper.'

Anne: 'And how long before departure dates do you do this?'

Steve Endacott: 'Up to a year in advance. As soon as the airlines go on sale we can package it up. With us you can fly with any airline from any departure airport you like. We have systems constantly scanning the internet looking for the cheapest seats of any airline, from any departure airport, all the time. And we always know that we've got the cheapest seat price in the market. (Though you can choose whatever airline you prefer).'

Anne: 'With the XL airline going bust, I worry about financial security. So are you ABTA and ATOL protected?'

Steve Endacott: ‘We offer greater protection than ABTA and ATOL.”

'We have just launched a product called supplier failure insurance. One of the world’s biggest insurers europ assistance underwrites it. It is a ‘catch all’ policy with greater sums insured than ATOL or ABTA. If your airline, your hotel, bed provider or your transfer company goes bust it covers your money up to £5000. ATOL only refunds the money you've lost not the cost of getting home. And as we've just seen with the XL failure - within a day seat prices doubled.'

Anne: 'So what happens if an airline I'm using goes bust and I am stranded?'

Steve Endacott: 'It's the same as ATOL you have to pay the money out before you get the money back. But with ATOL you actually have to get permission before you can replace anything or fly home. Also, ATOL only protects you if you buy a package holiday with a charter flight. So if you book a low cost carrier ATOL does not cover you. We are including supplier failure insurance in the price of the holidays we are offering to Club Together readers.'  

Tailor-make your holiday here

Anne: 'So what if I don’t like the dates or the duration or the locations on offer?'

Steve: 'It is really important to understand the flexibility you get with us through Club Together that you don’t get with traditional package operators. Pick up the phone or go to the website and we can give you expert advice and tailor-make a package for you. And we also have the rest of the world to choose from.'

Anne: 'So what makes this a better deal for Club Together readers?'

Steve Endacott: 'What we’re saying is rather than book traditional tour operators we’ve got leading edger technology that allows you to book with any airline, combined with a whole range of accommodation at a fraction of the cost.'

ANNE’S VERDICT

'I was very impressed...'
 
'...especially when I had a go on the website. The information and stuff on it looks terrific. The fact I got to see the Steve, the Chief Executive impressed me and he struck me as direct and honest.

'I will use the website to book a trip to the Sol Andalusi to check out the accommodation for Club Together’s next magazine.'

ANNE'S RATING
Using our 5 golden rules for a better deal

5.0 - Honesty
Very open about how it all works

4.5 - Price Guarantee
Cheapest flights and always cheaper than a travel agent

4.0 – Service
Supplier Failure Insurance and tailor-made holidays sound good.

3.0 – Information
Lots of information but just on the web or phone

4.0 - Recognition
Special deals for Club Together

ANNE’S OVERALL SCORE

20.5 /25

Tailor-make your holiday here