Booking Protection

1. Introduction

This statement explains how Talvania Global Ltd ("we", "us", "our") arranges your flights and holidays, how our arrangements with our IATA-accredited host travel agency help protect your booking, and what this means for you as a customer. We want you to book with confidence, so please take the time to read this statement alongside our Terms & Conditions before you pay for any Travel Arrangements, and please do not hesitate to ask us any questions about your specific protection before you commit to paying a deposit.

2. Why Financial Protection Matters

When you book travel in advance, you are typically paying for services — flights, accommodation, tours — that will not actually be delivered until weeks or months later. Financial protection frameworks exist across the UK and international travel industry to reduce the risk that, in the rare event a travel business or supplier fails financially between the time you pay and the time you travel, you are left out of pocket or stranded abroad. Different types of protection apply depending on how your trip is booked and put together, which is why we explain, below, exactly how bookings made through Talvania Global are protected, rather than relying on generic industry assumptions that may not apply to your specific circumstances.

3. Our Role and Your Financial Protection

As explained in our Terms & Conditions, Talvania Global typically acts as a booking agent, arranging flights, accommodation and other Travel Arrangements on behalf of third-party Suppliers, rather than acting as the airline, hotel or tour operator ourselves. For flight and flight-inclusive bookings, we arrange ticketing through our host travel agency, Brightsun Travel (IATA 3856), which is accredited by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to issue airline tickets on behalf of its member airlines. This accreditation is subject to strict financial and operational standards set by IATA, and gives you the assurance that your flight booking is being ticketed through a recognised, regulated channel within the global airline distribution system. Where your Travel Arrangements are a flight-inclusive package or Flight-Plus arrangement, they are additionally protected under Brightsun Travel's Air Travel Organiser's Licence, ATOL 3856, as described in full on our dedicated ATOL Protection page.

4. What Is IATA Accreditation?

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is the trade association for the world's airlines, representing around 300 airlines and roughly 80% of global air traffic. IATA operates an accreditation programme for travel agents who wish to sell airline tickets on behalf of IATA member airlines. To become accredited, a travel agency must meet defined standards relating to financial stability, staff competency and operational security, and must comply with IATA's Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) rules, which govern how ticket sales are reported and how funds are remitted to airlines on a regular settlement cycle. An IATA number, such as 3856 held by Brightsun Travel, is a unique identifier confirming that agency's accreditation status, and can typically be verified through IATA's own agent lists.

5. How the IATA Billing and Settlement Plan Works

The IATA Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) is a standardised global system that simplifies the reporting, billing and remittance of funds between travel agents and airlines. When an IATA-accredited agent, such as Brightsun Travel, issues a ticket, the transaction is reported through the BSP system, and funds collected from the customer are remitted to the relevant airline on a fixed periodic settlement cycle, minus the agent's commission where applicable. This standardised, regulated process is designed to bring transparency and consistency to how airline ticket sales are handled across thousands of travel agencies worldwide, and is a key reason airlines are willing to distribute tickets through accredited third-party agents rather than only selling directly.

6. Our Host Agency: Brightsun Travel

Brightsun Travel (IATA 3856) is the IATA-accredited host agency through which we issue flight tickets and process related airline payments on your behalf. Operating through an established, accredited host agency allows us to offer access to fares and airline inventory across a wide range of carriers, while your flight payment is processed through Brightsun Travel's regulated IATA settlement channel rather than being held by us directly once your ticket has been issued.

7. How Your Payments Are Protected

When you pay a deposit or the full cost of your Travel Arrangements to us, those funds are used to secure and pay for the relevant flights, accommodation or other services with the applicable Supplier, via Brightsun Travel where flights are involved. We do not use customer payments to fund unrelated business expenses. Once your flight ticket has been issued through the IATA BSP system, or once a hotel, tour or other reservation has been confirmed and paid to the relevant Supplier, that element of your Travel Arrangements is held directly with the Supplier under the Supplier's own terms.

8. Flight-Only Bookings

For flight-only bookings, once your ticket has been issued, your contract of carriage is with the operating airline, and the airline's own conditions of carriage govern matters such as changes, cancellations, baggage, and delay or cancellation compensation (including, for flights departing the UK, rights under UK Regulation 261/2004 where applicable). Ticket issuance is confirmed to you in writing, and you should keep this confirmation safe as proof of your contract with the airline. If you have a query about a flight after ticketing, you can quote your ticket number and IATA-issued booking reference to either the airline directly or to us, and we can assist in liaising with Brightsun Travel on your behalf.

9. Package Holidays and the Package Travel Regulations

Where the Travel Arrangements you book with us meet the legal definition of a "package" under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 (for example, a combination of flight and accommodation booked together through us for a single price), additional statutory protections apply, including rules on pre-contractual information, liability for the proper performance of the package, and requirements for insolvency protection of monies paid. Where we sell a flight-inclusive package or Flight-Plus arrangement, this insolvency protection is provided through ATOL 3856, held by Brightsun Travel, and you will receive an ATOL Certificate confirming this. Full details are set out on our dedicated ATOL Protection page. We will confirm the specific protection arrangements that apply at the time of booking.

10. Linked Travel Arrangements

In some cases, you may book separate travel services (for example, a flight and, separately, a hotel) through us on different occasions, which may constitute a "linked travel arrangement" rather than a package under applicable regulations. Where this applies, a more limited form of protection applies than for a package, generally covering insolvency protection for monies paid to us in connection with facilitating the linked arrangement. We will make clear to you at the point of booking whether your Travel Arrangements constitute a package, a linked travel arrangement, or simply a single, standalone travel service.

11. What Happens If a Supplier Fails

In the rare event that an airline, hotel or other Supplier ceases trading or is otherwise unable to honour your booking, your rights depend on the nature of your booking (package, linked arrangement, or standalone service) and on any protection scheme applicable to that Supplier or booking type. Where you have booked a package that includes insolvency protection, you may be entitled to a refund or repatriation under that protection. For standalone flight or hotel bookings, your recourse is generally against the Supplier directly, and we strongly recommend appropriate travel insurance, as described in Section 15, to protect against this risk.

12. Example Scenario: Airline Cancels Your Flight

If your airline cancels your flight before departure, you are generally entitled, under the airline's conditions of carriage and applicable regulation, to either a refund or rebooking onto an alternative flight. Where this happens, please contact us as soon as you are aware, quoting your booking reference, and we will assist you in exercising your rights with the airline, liaising with Brightsun Travel where the ticket was issued through the IATA BSP system, to secure the appropriate remedy on your behalf as quickly as possible.

13. Example Scenario: Hotel or Accommodation Issue

If you experience a significant issue with your accommodation once you arrive (for example, the property is not as described or is unable to honour your reservation), you should raise this with the property directly in the first instance, as they are best placed to resolve it immediately. If the issue cannot be resolved locally, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can intervene with the Supplier on your behalf and advise you of your options, which may include relocation to comparable accommodation or, in appropriate cases, compensation in accordance with the Supplier's terms.

14. What Happens If We or Our Host Agency Cease Trading

Because flight payments are processed through Brightsun Travel's IATA-accredited settlement channel, monies collected for flight tickets that have already been issued are held by the airline via the IATA BSP system rather than by us. For deposits or payments taken in advance of ticket issuance or Supplier confirmation, our internal financial controls are designed to ensure customer funds are used promptly to secure the relevant Travel Arrangements. We encourage all customers to take out travel insurance that includes scheduled airline/tour operator failure cover for additional peace of mind, as described in Section 15.

15. Your Responsibilities: Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you confirm any Booking with us. Good travel insurance should include cover for cancellation and curtailment, scheduled airline or supplier failure, medical expenses and repatriation, personal belongings, and personal liability, appropriate to your destination and planned activities. Travel insurance provides an important additional layer of protection that sits alongside, and in some cases fills gaps in, the statutory and industry protections described in this statement. We are happy to discuss what level of cover may be appropriate for your specific trip when you book.

16. Verifying Your Protection

Before you pay for your Travel Arrangements, your travel consultant will confirm in writing exactly what protection applies to your specific booking, including whether it is a package, a linked travel arrangement, or a standalone service, and which Supplier or protection scheme applies. If you are ever unsure what protection applies to your booking, please ask us before you pay — we are happy to explain this clearly for your peace of mind, and you are welcome to independently verify Brightsun Travel's IATA accreditation status before proceeding.

17. Elements Not Covered by This Statement

This statement describes the general protection framework applicable to bookings made through Talvania Global. It does not constitute insurance, and it does not replace the specific booking conditions of the Suppliers providing your Travel Arrangements, which remain the primary source of your contractual rights for that element of your trip. We recommend you also review the relevant Supplier's own conditions, which are provided or made available to you at the time of booking.

18. Record-Keeping and Your Booking Reference

We keep detailed records of your booking, including confirmation of ticketing and payment, for the retention periods described in our Privacy Policy. We recommend you also keep your own copies of all booking confirmations, ticket numbers and payment receipts, and that you always quote your booking reference when contacting us, Brightsun Travel, or any Supplier about your Travel Arrangements, as this allows any query to be resolved more quickly.

19. Complaints and Escalation

If you experience an issue relating to the protection of your booking or payment, please contact us first using the details in Section 21 so that we can investigate and assist. Where your complaint relates specifically to airline ticketing or the IATA settlement process, we will liaise with Brightsun Travel on your behalf to seek a resolution, and will keep you informed of progress throughout.

20. Regulatory Context

The UK aviation sector is regulated by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which also administers the ATOL (Air Travel Organiser's Licensing) scheme for flight-inclusive package holidays. Brightsun Travel holds ATOL 3856, under which the flight-inclusive packages and Flight-Plus arrangements we sell are protected, as described in full on our ATOL Protection page. Brightsun Travel also operates within the IATA Billing and Settlement Plan framework as an IATA-accredited agent (IATA 3856), overseen internationally by IATA rather than the CAA. Package holidays generally are regulated under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, which sit alongside, and in some cases overlap with, ATOL requirements depending on how a package is put together and by whom. We keep our booking and protection arrangements under regular review to reflect the current regulatory environment and our Suppliers' own requirements, and we will always tell you clearly which framework applies to your specific booking.

21. Why Financial Protection Frameworks Exist

The UK's various travel financial protection frameworks, including ATOL and the protections built into the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, were developed over several decades, partly in response to instances where holidaymakers were left stranded or out of pocket following the failure of travel businesses. These frameworks aim to strike a balance between protecting consumers and allowing a competitive, innovative travel industry — including independent agencies like Talvania Global — to continue offering choice and value. Understanding which framework applies to your specific booking helps you make an informed decision about whether additional protection, such as travel insurance, is right for you.

22. IATA Accreditation Compared to ATOL Licensing

It is worth understanding the difference between IATA accreditation and ATOL licensing, as the two are sometimes confused. ATOL is a UK-specific licensing scheme, administered by the CAA, that applies to businesses selling flight-inclusive package holidays, and includes a consumer protection fund (the Air Travel Trust) that can repatriate and refund customers of a failed ATOL holder. IATA accreditation, by contrast, is an international system that authorises accredited agents to issue tickets on behalf of member airlines through the regulated BSP settlement process described in Section 5, but is not itself a consumer compensation fund in the way ATOL is. Brightsun Travel holds both: ATOL 3856 and IATA 3856. Depending on how your Travel Arrangements are put together, one, both, or neither framework may apply, which is why your travel consultant will always confirm the specific protection basis for your booking in writing before you pay, as described in Section 16, and why we maintain a dedicated ATOL Protection page setting out the ATOL side of this in full.

23. If You Are Abroad When a Problem Occurs

If you experience a Supplier-related problem while you are already travelling — for example, an unexpected schedule change, an accommodation issue, or a Supplier ceasing to operate locally — please contact us as soon as it is safe and practical to do so, using the telephone number or WhatsApp details in Section 24, quoting your booking reference. Where the issue relates to an airline, you should also speak to airline staff at the airport where possible, as they are often best placed to rebook you immediately. We will do what we reasonably can to assist you from the UK, including liaising with Brightsun Travel or the relevant Supplier, but please also keep any receipts for reasonable additional expenses you incur as a result of a Supplier failure, as these may be recoverable under your travel insurance policy.

24. Insurance and Statutory Protection Work Together

Statutory and industry protections such as IATA accreditation, ATOL (where applicable) and the Package Travel Regulations are not a substitute for travel insurance, and travel insurance is not a substitute for these frameworks — they are designed to work alongside one another. Statutory frameworks generally address the financial failure of a travel business or the fundamental performance of a package; travel insurance typically covers a much broader range of risks, including your own need to cancel due to illness, medical treatment while abroad, delayed or lost baggage, and personal liability. We recommend you view comprehensive travel insurance as an essential companion to, not a replacement for, the protections described in this statement.

25. Questions We're Often Asked

Customers sometimes ask whether booking through an independent agency like Talvania Global, rather than directly with an airline, offers less protection. In practice, because we ticket flights through an IATA-accredited host agency operating within the regulated BSP settlement system described in Section 5, the underlying protection for your flight ticket is comparable to booking directly with the airline, while you also benefit from having a dedicated travel consultant to assist you before, during and after your trip. Customers also frequently ask whether they need travel insurance if their flight is IATA-protected — the answer is yes, because IATA accreditation relates to how your ticket is issued and paid for, not to the wide range of other risks (illness, missed connections, lost baggage) that travel insurance is designed to cover, as explained in Section 24.

26. Relationship With Our Other Policies

This Booking Protection statement should be read together with our Terms & Conditions, which set out the wider contractual basis of your Booking, and our Payment Policy, which explains how and when payments are collected. Where the written protection statement provided for your specific Booking differs from the general information on this page, the specific statement provided to you will always take precedence.

27. A Summary of How You're Protected

To bring the above together: flights booked through Talvania Global are ticketed via our IATA-accredited host agency, Brightsun Travel (IATA 3856), meaning your ticket is issued through a regulated, industry-recognised settlement channel, as described in Sections 4 to 7. Where your Travel Arrangements meet the legal definition of a package or Flight-Plus arrangement, they are additionally protected under Brightsun Travel's Air Travel Organiser's Licence, ATOL 3856, as described in Section 9 and in full on our ATOL Protection page. Whatever the structure of your booking, your travel consultant will always confirm the specific protection basis for your Travel Arrangements in writing before you pay, as described in Section 16, and we strongly encourage you to complement this protection with comprehensive travel insurance, as described in Section 15 and Section 24, for the fullest possible peace of mind.

28. Changes to This Statement

We may update this Booking Protection statement from time to time to reflect changes in our host agency arrangements, our Suppliers, or applicable regulation. The protection statement provided to you in writing at the time of your specific booking will always take precedence over the general information on this page for that booking. The date at the top of this page indicates when it was last revised.

29. Contact Us

If you have any questions about how your booking is protected, please contact us on (0203) 983-6853, via WhatsApp, or through our Contact Us page before you make payment. Our registered office address is Office 8168, 321-323 High Road, Chadwell Heath, Essex, United Kingdom, RM6 6AX.