Football fans urged to avoid being ripped off over World Cup travel
Thousands of England and Wales supporters will travel to Qatar.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Football fans are urged to avoid being ripped off when booking trips to the World Cup in Qatar.
Thousands of England and Wales supporters will travel to the Middle East country to attend the tournament, which begins on November 20.
The UK’s aviation regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), warned fans not to fall victim to fake deals.
Nobody wants to score an own goal by not doing their research
It recommended that supporters make bookings which are financially protected by the Atol scheme.
Booking a package trip with an Atol holder ensures people will not get stuck abroad or lose money if a company stops trading.
CAA consumers and markets director Paul Smith said: “Football fans need to know the score before booking to make sure they can enjoy the World Cup in Qatar.
“Nobody wants to score an own goal by not doing their research on their chosen travel firm and losing out as a result.
“Depending on how England and Wales progress, some people might be tempted to make a last-minute booking to Qatar.
“Hopefully, football will be the winner with everyone enjoying a trouble-free trip.”
The CAA recommended paying for trips with a credit card as this offers more protection if something goes wrong.
It also urged fans to obtain travel insurance and beware of hidden costs.
The Government has also issued advice for anyone travelling to Qatar during the tournament.
All visitors must obtain a Hayya Card, which is an identity card.
Those staying for more than 24 hours have to register their accommodation in advance.
Visitors are also warned that they face serious penalties for importing certain goods such as pork products, alcohol, e-cigarettes and “anything that can be perceived as pornography”.