Flight cancelled? Don’t pack away the flip flops just yet

By Tom Pilkington

Flight cancellations can turn that dream getaway into a perfect nightmare, but travel insurance can be the sword and shield (or bucket and spade) you need to help get you to your getaway. Here's what will, won't and might be covered by your travel policy.

Your travel insurance will likely cover:

Cancelled flights

Months of planning, getting yourself beach-ready, and memorising your Spanish phrase book… all for nothing? No. Your airline should refund you if they cancel your flight, but if there are any issues getting your money back (from your hotel for example) you can claim as a cost that can’t be recovered elsewhere, leaving you free to get back on the holiday horse.

Cancellation owing to illness or injury or loss

If you or a travelling companion falls ill or is injured then you would be covered for cancelling or abandoning your holiday. This would also be the case if a close member of family falls ill, is injured or dies.

Being called for jury service

We plead guilty to providing comprehensive cover. If your holiday clashes with you being called for jury service or as a witness in a court of law, then you would be covered for cancelling your holiday if you’re the policyholder or insured person.

Medical fees and emergency return to the UK

Picking up an injury or an illness on holiday is bad luck. Any medical expenses that arise in the country you’re visiting and your transport back to the UK will be covered if it's medically necessary. Make sure you disclose any pre-existing medical conditions for all insured travelers to your insurer, as they will most likely want to adjust the cover to take those into account.

If you lose your job

Redundancy can be an unexpected bump in the road and your insurers will take that into account if you need to cancel a holiday that’s already been booked.

Your money is stolen

 If your cash is pinched (this includes travellers’ cheques and non-refundable pre-paid entertainment tickets) then you'll be covered. However, we would still advise you to zip up those bum-bags and keep an eye out for pickpockets.

Your travel insurance might cover:

Different insurers often cover different things, so check the paperwork to make sure you’re getting the cover you need.

Airspace closures, strikes, and industrial action

If your transport is cancelled due to a strike or the airport itself is closed, you may not be covered automatically, but many insurers offer ‘travel disruption’ and 'airspace closure' add-ons which will allow you to claim if this happens.

Winter sports, scuba diving and golf

Adrenaline junkies, ocean explorers, and… golfers: you’ll need to tell your insurer about your activities as there will probably be a small extra charge to cover you and your equipment.

Lost or stolen baggage

This is the nightmare start or end to the holiday, but don’t assume that your baggage will be covered automatically – you normally need an optional add-on like our baggage cover. It’s also worth checking if your insurer offers to pay for essential items (like clothes and toiletries) that you need if your bag is temporarily lost by your airline. And no, an inflatable pool flamingo doesn’t count as essential.

Personal belongings

Lost, stolen, or damaged personal items can be covered under the same optional add-on as baggage. So, for a small additional fee you can cover the lot.

Your insurance probably won’t cover:

Any event that happened before you got your insurance

It’s tempting to leave travel insurance to the last minute, but by buying it in advance you’ll be covering yourself for any event (like illness or injury) that stops you from travelling. If your insurance is bought after the event, then you won’t be able to claim.

Check-in delays and missed flights

Are you one of those people who gets to the airport with plenty of time to spare? Give yourselves a pat on the back if so, because missing your flight, even if there are check-in delays, isn’t covered.

Passport issues

Luck favours the prepared and the onus is on you to ensure all travel documents, such as passports and visas, are valid before you travel. You can stay up to date with the latest foreign travel advice on the www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice website.