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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder if travel insurance will pay out

11 replies

Bearbehind · 18/03/2020 19:23

We were due to go on holiday during this travel ban and had to decide whether to rebook or claim on insurance.

We went for the rebook option which may or may not be the right choice.

Part of me wonders if the travel agent / hotel will still be operating later in the year

But I also wondered if travel insurance is actually going to pay out and if we’d cancelled and they didn’t, we’d lose everything we’d paid

I’ve already heard examples of people not being covered for this or for travel insurers insisting people try and make a Section 75 claim if they’ve paid by credit card first

So do you think travel insurance will pay out generally?

OP posts:
LaBelleSauvage123 · 18/03/2020 19:30

I don’t know but I caught the end of a radio 4 programme on this today which sounded very good. You and Yours maybe? You should be able to search for it

LunaLilly · 18/03/2020 19:34

We were due to go away on Monday to the Canaries. This was after the Spanish government put the country on lock down. Because Ryanair were still flying people out there and the hotel were still accepting guests (even though pool, bar, spa closed and not allowed to leave hotel) then we couldn't get a refund. We didn't go because FCO advised against all but essential travel so our insurance would of been void had we have gone. However, our Halifax insurance (axa) are sending us back to the travel agent for refund, then to try ATOL or credit cards. Basically every other option before they will consider our claim. You might have done the right thing moving your date!! The hotel could be bust by then but so could all the insurance companies...

Original poster
Bearbehind · 18/03/2020 19:37

Sorry to hear you’re being given the runaround luna, that’s just what I was afraid of

I had the option which was good but you never know which is the right choice

I just thought the insurance companies might be trying every other avenue before agreeing to paying out

OP posts:
KoalasandRabbit · 18/03/2020 19:43

It's quite a gamble as to whether insurance will pay out or not - ours only pays out if FCO advice to that country is avoid all but essential travel 48 hours before travel. They have also sent an e-mail saying anything we add from now on won't be covered though obviously no plans to add anything. We have to try and get refunds from everyone first. At the moment it's 14 day quarantine in our location but FCO not advising against travel other than general don't travel so not paying out.

Had this with school Italy trip first week of June - got school insurance plus 2 family insurance and none of them covering cancelling now. 2 won't cover school trips and school one only covers is FCO advice is don't travel to Italy in June. Decided to pull out anyway at £285 rather than risk the £850 on insurance roulette.

Our insurer also isn't covering any internal flights and missed flights and quarantine it says depends on circumstances. We won't be going but if we did it could be 14 days in quarantine and a massive bill.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 18/03/2020 19:49

What made me finally to chose to rebook is my policy says it covers you if the government prohibit travel to your destination and the FCO only advise you not to travel

The distinction there seems potentially significant

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bellabasset · 18/03/2020 19:51

It all sounds very complicated, but I think the insurance companies will try to minimise the number of claims. The only 'consolation' is that you aren't stuck in a lock down trying to get home and having to do it at your own cost.

I have a holiday booked but think we will.still be in lockdown

WelcomeToShootingStars · 18/03/2020 19:54

Not sure. I was due to travel in a couple of weeks, my insurance has already validated my claim as they work to advise to avoid all but essential travel for 31 days.

I also have a booking on the euroshuttle and just waiting to find out about that. I don't want a different date as I was going for something specific, but as the service is operating it seems to be a bit of a grey area.

girlwithadragontattoo · 18/03/2020 19:54

If you can re-book that would be better, the landscape may be very different in a couple of months time.

As someone who works on the ground abroad in a holiday destination, we're advising all guests to either re-book for a date later in the year or to contact your insurance company

KoalasandRabbit · 18/03/2020 19:56

I think insurers will have so many claims atm they will be using any get out clause they can so check small print - mine says at least avoid all but essential travel but they have said people buying insurance from now on aren't covered for coronavirus at all. Unless there's a government bail-out for the industry I think lots of claims will be refused. I'm expecting ours to not be paid, just hoping the airline doesn't go under as then will be whole flight cost gone, not just non-refundable.

KoalasandRabbit · 18/03/2020 19:58

I can't see situation improving this year as no vaccine is due out, one hotel offered me to move dates but was only 1 night booking and no idea when is safe to move to. Earliest date seen given for vaccine to be out more widely is December and that's doubtful.

Original poster
Bearbehind · 18/03/2020 20:03

If this is still going on in December, holidays will be the least of everyone’s worries ☹️

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