In the Package Travel Directive the definition of Package Travel has been broadened to include services purchased from different suppliers but paid for in a single transaction. The directive has also created a second type of regulated holiday, the Linked Travel Arrangement.
Package Travel
Package travel is defined as lasting at least 24 hours or comprising at least 1 overnight stay and at least two travel services (transport, accommodation, car hire or other tourist services). These trips may be booked via different operators who share the customer’s name payment details selected from one shop, website or call centre and paid for in a single transaction. Packages offer the consumer better protection.
Linked Travel Arrangement
If you sell at least two separate travel services to consumers paid for separately, which can be linked through the way in which customers book, this is a Linked Travel Arrangement (LTA, in Dutch Gekoppeld Reis Arrangement, GRA). Like package travel an LTA lasts at least 24 hours or comprises at least 1 overnight stay and at least two travel services (transport, accommodation, car hire or other tourist services), however, if at least two travels services are booked and therefore paid for separately during a single visit to a website, they are subject to different rules. Linked Travel Arrangements offer less protection to the consumer.
Exemptions
Travel packages and LTAs lasting less than 24 hours which do not include accommodation are exempt from regulation, as are trips organised occasionally on a non-profit basis for a limited group. The legislation is also not applicable to business travel when there is a general agreement in place between the travel company and the buyer outlining terms of sale for a specific period of time or a series of sales.