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SAFI, End Supplier Failure and Travel Insolvency Cover Explained
You may want to protect your holiday from your airline or accommodation going bust, but how? Insuring against insolvency/financial failure is no straightforward task. If you're trying to figure out if you're already protected by ATOL or ABTA, or if you need to buy separate travel insurance with SAFI or ESF cover, we've tried to explain the basics here in plain English.
ATOL or ABTA: Protection for Package Holidays
If you booked a package holiday with flights and accommodation together (that is, you paid one price for the total trip), you should have cover if your travel firm holds an ATOL (Air Travel Organisers Licensing) and you've received confirmation that you are protected with an ATOL certificate. In that case, the travel firm is responsible for your flight arrangements and must either make alternative flights for you so that your holiday can continue or provide a full refund. If you are already abroad, the travel agent should make plans to allow you to continue with your holiday and then bring you back to the UK at the end of your trip.
ATOL does not protect you if you book direct with an airline. If your ATOL travel firm books your flights and accommodation separately, then only your flights would be protected by ATOL. In that case (i.e., flights and accommodation booked separately), you may still be protected if your travel agent runs their own financial protection scheme through the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).
When you book a package holiday, it's always a good idea to ask if your booking is covered under ATOL or ABTA. But beware that some firms falsely advertise that ATOL Protection is in place. To ensure your holiday is protected in 2026, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) now recommends that you never rely on a list of 'known bad actors,' as new fraudulent sites are created daily. Instead, you must independently verify any firm before booking.
How to Check for Protection
Instead of checking a list of "avoid" sites, follow these three mandatory steps for 2026 travel safety:
- Use the Official ATOL Check Tool: Go to the Official ATOL Database and search by the Company Name or their 4 or 5-digit ATOL Number. If the firm is legitimate, the details (including their official website address) will match exactly.
- Verify the URL: Scammers often use "typo-squatting" (e.g., https://www.google.com/search?q=britishairways-deals.com instead of britishairways.com). Always double-check that the URL in your browser matches the one registered on the ATOL database.
- The "Check a Jet" Rule: In 2026, the CAA's "Check a Jet" campaign reminds travelers that if a deal seems significantly cheaper than everywhere else (particularly if they ask for payment via bank transfer rather than a protected credit card), it is likely a scam.
Protection When You Book Your Own Holiday
If you're not covered by ATOL or ABTA because you made your own arrangements, you may assume that you're still covered through a travel insurance policy. However, many travel insurance plans will NOT cover you if your airline or hotel goes bust. If having this insolvency protection is a priority for you, look for plans that include Scheduled Airline Failure (SAFI) and/or End Supplier Failure (ESF).
It's always worth reading the fine print of a plan's terms and conditions yourself to fully understand the scope of cover before you purchase travel insurance. And some plans will only pay out if you can't be reimbursed another way (e.g., from the airline or your credit card).
SAFI
Scheduled Airline Failure (SAFI) is designed to cover your costs if an airline or agent goes into administration. However, as of 2026, SAFI is becoming increasingly rare in the UK market. Recent market shifts have seen major providers, including Virgin Money and Fit2Travel, completely remove SAFI from their policies. Even 'Premium' or 'Platinum' tier plans are no longer guaranteed to include this protection, so it is vital to check the IPID (Insurance Product Information Document) specifically for this benefit before purchasing.
SAFI protection may vary significantly depending on the policy. Some travel insurance plans simply cover the cost of the original tickets purchased or any unused portion, while others may cover the additional cost of purchasing new flights (e.g., new tickets for travel back to the UK).
Depending on the policy, with SAFI you should be covered for either:
- Your original ticket cost paid prior to departure
- The cost of a return flight to the UK or onward flight(s) in order to complete the pre-arranged journey at the same standard as originally booked
End Supplier Failure (ESF)
If you've booked your flights, accommodation, and other services separately and are not covered by ATOL, the most comprehensive alternative has historically been End Supplier Failure (ESF). Unfortunately, ESF is being systematically phased out by large insurers. Recent data shows that household names like Saga, Virgin Money, Admiral, and Fit2Travel have stopped offering this cover entirely. Finding a policy that protects you if a hotel, car hire firm, or ferry operator goes bust is now much harder than it was just two years ago.
Credit Card Protection
If you paid directly to the airline by credit card you might be protected by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. Paying by debit card is more risky—you may have similar cover if your debit card is a Visa, but check the conditions on your card before relying on this protection.
FAQs
End Supplier Failure (ESF) can cover your costs if a travel provider fails financially and can no longer deliver the transportation or accommodation you've bought from them. ESF (also called Financial Failure or Insolvency cover) can cover the purchase of alternative flights should your airline go bankrupt and/or alternative accommodation if a hotel you've booked becomes insolvent. ESF can also cover ferry, coach and railway tickets, car hire and villas or cottages, but the extent of cover depends on the small print in your policy's terms and conditions.
End Supplier Failure (ESF) is a valuable feature, but insisting on it in 2026 will drastically reduce your choice of insurers. Because so many top-rated providers have dropped ESF and SAFI, you may find that the remaining policies that offer it are significantly more expensive. If you cannot find a suitable policy that includes this cover, your best alternative is to book all travel components costing over £100 using a credit card. This ensures you are protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974, which holds your credit provider jointly liable if the supplier becomes insolvent.
Scheduled Airline Failure Insurance (SAFI) covers costs if an airline or agent goes into administration—coverage can vary with some plans simply covering the cost of the original tickets purchased or any unused portion, while other plans may cover the additional cost of purchasing new flights (e.g., new tickets for travel back to the UK). SAFI cover may be included as standard with your travel insurance, although this is somewhat rare and typically only offered on more premium plans. Other times you can buy it as an optional add on feature, but not always.