Thomas Cook Airlines Ltd was not a Member of ABTA and did not hold an ATOL licence with the Civil Aviation Authority. Therefore, when it went out of business it left holiday makers in a very difficult position with hotels trying to get money from them directly and also needed the Government to arrange flights home. Was it acceptable that this situation was allowed to happen? Should there have been mandatory rules to protect the traveller. Or, is it okay for individual travel companies to decide if they want to take part in these different protection schemes and is it the obligation of the traveller to check what safeguards are in place for each travel company.