Wayfairer Travel has suspended all services and is appointing an administrator. If you are due to travel before 30 September 2026, do not travel. How you claim a refund depends on how you paid: ATOL-certificate holders claim through ABTOT, and those without ATOL should claim through their debit or credit card provider using Section 75 or chargeback.
TL;DR · LAST REVIEWED 4 SEPTEMBER 2026
- Wayfairer Travel has suspended all services and is appointing an administrator.
- If you are due to travel before 30 September 2026, do not travel; await instructions.
- How you claim depends on how you paid: ATOL via ABTOT, otherwise Section 75 or chargeback via your card.
Wayfairer Travel refund: which route is yours
| Your situation | How to claim |
| You hold an ATOL Certificate | Contact ABTOT on 020 7065 5311 or claims@abtot.com |
| No ATOL, paid by credit card over £100 | Section 75 claim against your card issuer |
| No ATOL, paid by debit card or under £100 | Chargeback through your card provider |
| You are not a UK resident | ABTOT does not cover you; use your card provider, insurer or agent |
| Departing before 30 September 2026 | Do not travel; await instructions |
| Departing after 30 September 2026 | Await further information from ABTOT |
Source: ABTOT and CAA guidance, September 2026
KEY FACTS
- Wayfairer Travel Limited, founded in 2012, has suspended all services and is taking steps to appoint an administrator.
- Customers due to travel before 30 September 2026 are told not to travel and to await instructions.
- ATOL-certificate holders should contact ABTOT on 020 7065 5311 or claims@abtot.com.
- Customers without ATOL should claim through their debit or credit card provider; ABTOT does not cover non-UK residents.
- Credit card payments over £100 are covered by Section 75; smaller or debit payments by chargeback.
What has happened
Wayfairer Travel, a UK tailor-made holiday specialist founded in 2012, has suspended all services and is taking steps to appoint an administrator. Customers with imminent trips have been warned not to travel. ABTOT, which provides the firm's financial protection, has said it is putting arrangements in place to assist eligible UK customers because Wayfairer can no longer guarantee that booked packages will be delivered. The immediate instruction is by departure date: if you are due to travel before 30 September 2026, do not travel, and if you are due to travel after that date, await further information rather than acting now.
If you have an ATOL Certificate
Check your booking paperwork for an ATOL Certificate. ATOL is the Civil Aviation Authority's financial protection scheme for package holidays that include a flight, and if your package is covered, the scheme refunds you or arranges your return. For the Wayfairer situation, ATOL-protected customers should contact ABTOT directly on 020 7065 5311 or by email at claims@abtot.com. Keep your certificate, booking confirmation and payment records together, as you will need them to claim.
If you do not have ATOL: Section 75 or chargeback
Not every trip is ATOL-protected, for example a hotel-only booking with no flight. If you have no ATOL cover, your route is your card provider. If you paid by credit card and the trip cost more than £100, Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act makes the card issuer jointly liable, so you can claim your money back from them. If you paid by debit card, or the amount was under £100, use chargeback through your card provider instead. Important: ABTOT protection does not cover bookings made by non-UK residents, who should use their card provider, travel insurer or agent.
Do not travel, and what to keep
The single most important step for anyone due to depart before 30 September 2026 is not to travel, because the package may not be delivered and you could be stranded or out of pocket abroad. Gather every document now: booking confirmation, ATOL Certificate if you have one, receipts and card statements showing what you paid. If a card claim is declined, ask for the decision in writing before escalating. Travel insurance may also help depending on your policy, so check whether yours includes scheduled airline or end-supplier failure cover.
RELATED GUIDES
DISCLAIMER
This article is editorial information based on ABTOT, CAA and FCA guidance at the time of writing. It is general information, not legal or financial advice. Refund routes and instructions may change; follow the latest guidance from ABTOT, your card provider and your travel insurer before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Should I travel with a Wayfairer booking
No, not if you are due to depart before 30 September 2026. You are told not to travel and to await instructions, because the package may not be delivered.
How do I claim a Wayfairer refund
If you have an ATOL Certificate, contact ABTOT on 020 7065 5311 or claims@abtot.com. If not, claim through your card provider using Section 75 for credit card payments over £100, or chargeback otherwise.
What is ATOL protection
ATOL is the Civil Aviation Authority scheme that protects package holidays including a flight. If the firm fails, ATOL refunds you or arranges your return home.
I am not a UK resident, am I covered
ABTOT protection for the Wayfairer situation does not cover bookings by non-UK residents. Use your card provider, travel insurer or booking agent instead.
What if my card refund is declined
Ask your card provider for a written final decision, then, for ATOL-eligible cases, contact ABTOT via Gallagher Bassett through the claims portal.
SOURCES
- GOV.UK: ATOL protection – accessed 4 September 2026
- FCA: claiming money back under Section 75 – accessed 4 September 2026
UPDATE, 05 September 2026
Service suspension and departure instruction
Wayfairer Travel has suspended all services with immediate effect. Customers who are due to depart on or before 30 September 2026 have been told not to travel. The suspension affects all bookings made with the company, and the instruction applies regardless of whether the trip was booked as a package or as a standalone arrangement.
The Civil Aviation Authority has issued guidance for affected customers. Those holding an ATOL certificate should contact the bonding body first, rather than approaching their card issuer. The certificate provides financial protection for flights and accommodation booked as part of an ATOL-protected package. Customers without a certificate are not covered by the ATOL scheme and must follow a different refund route.
Refund routes by booking type
UK residents without an ATOL certificate should approach their debit or credit card provider first. Claims can be made under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 for credit card payments over £100, or through chargeback for debit and credit card transactions. Any rejection from the card provider should be obtained in writing before pursuing the bond claims process.
The bond does not cover customers who were not permanently resident in the UK when they booked. For those who are eligible, the bond claims process applies only after a written refusal from the card issuer. Package bookings made under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 may have additional protection, but the primary route remains the card provider for non-ATOL customers.
