Has anyone ever missed a flight due to bad weather conditions?

[Natdex1984]

Hi everyone, I’m due to fly from Gatwick this Thursday but driving there from cornwall (approx 5 hour drive). Currently the weather forecast isn’t looking great due to snow although subject to change. I was just wondering if anyone had ever been in a situation where they couldn’t physically get to the airport and missed their flight. Were you able to get another flight or could you claim money back via your travel insurance? For reference, I’ve booked through Tui and it’s a package holiday to Thailand - they only fly once a week to this destination. Thanks in advance

Why not book a hotel at the airport the evening before? Remove the stress?

No, you wouldn't get another flight without paying for it, or be able to claim it on your insurance. Weather is generally not covered as an "act of god".

Your best bet would be travelling up the day before.

Given its five days away, you have plenty of time to work out a way of accommodating the weather…

You need to check with your insurance provider but I agree with the previous poster, why not make alternative arrangements to get there much earlier?

We have once, we were stuck in a ski resort after an avalanche closed the only road in.

We had to rebook flights for the next day and stay overnight at an airport hotel. We claimed from our travel insurance.

In your position, I’d travel up the night before to make sure you’re there.

No sign of snow in forecast until Friday and even then sleet.

I wouldn’t chance that long drive under normal Circumstances. I’d stay over the night before.

It's Gatwick, not outer Mongolia. That drive is nothing, it will be fine.

Drive up the day before.

I was stranded on a Scottish island due to bad weather . Airline put me up in a hotel and rebooked for the next day .

No

you will not be covered for not checking conditions and setting off earlier

can you go up the night before and stay in the hotel at Gatwick (Hampton at Hilton was great!). it takes away all the stress. I know it’s costly but it’s so worth it for ease.

Dont do A303 and just stick to A30, M5 and M4 just in case. I guess that’s personal preference but I personally find the A303 a little more sketchy in bad weather!

Really hope you get to enjoy your holiday :)

”Acts of God” aren’t normally covered. Your post is a bit of a strange non problem.

1. There is no way five days out that the weather won’t change.
2. There are plenty of options to drive up before and stay in a hotel.
3. Leave hours earlier if it’s that much of a worry.
4. Since you know the flight onky goes once a week what would be the point of trying to get another flight ? Also, why would one company for free book you onto another flight?

I have missed flights due to weather (plane couldn’t go), airports being closed, strikes, airlines going bankrupt, delayed connections etc.

A company won’t reimburse you for something in your control (getting there on time) or book you another flight. Either mitigate the circumstances or lose your money.

It’s a good shout and since you are driving you can also get a parking and hotel package.

Seriously you will be fine. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

I'd drive up the day before. I realise the roads won't be as busy as in peak holiday season, but it only takes one accident or incident to hold you up for hours.

I used to travel from Sussex to Cornwall a few times a year, and the number of times that were hassle free were few.

Our travel insurance won’t pay out for flights missed unless adequate time was allowed for the journey to the airport.

For long haul trips we tend to travel the day before and stay close to the airport in a hotel or with friends/family.

I have missed flights due to weather (plane couldn’t go), airports being closed, strikes, airlines going bankrupt, delayed connections etc.

Yes, if the flight itself if cancelled then of course you can claim on insurance.

But not if the flight is leaving as planned, and you didn't get there in time as you didn't plan ahead for the weather en route to the airport.

Stuck in Mexico due to a hurricane (bloody frightening experience). Airline continued our stay in the hotel and flew us home 36 hours later. The only extra expense we had was the extended car park charges.
I wouldn't imagine your travel insurance would cover a missed departure here under those circumstances though. I would drive down the day before and stay in an airport hotel the night before.

We had a flight cancelled due to snow, but not here, the weather was fine here. It was March and the snow was in Girona, in Spain! The whole of the Costa Brava (it seems) was without electricity and our holiday was delayed by 2 days.

As others have said, you'll be covered by travel insurance if the flight is cancelled due to the weather conditions, but not if you miss the flight due to being delayed on your journey to the airport.

Another vote for staying overnight near the airport if you're worried

The only times it's happened to me were the Icelandic ash cloud which stranded me in Bangkok and a massive storm which grounded all flights from SC to Atlanta. Once clear they were chucking folk onto anything that flew just to get them away, and sod the FAA regs ... if one of those aircraft had gone down they'd have had no idea who was on it

We were left abandoned in New York due to poor weather with 3 small dc. After being moved to a different airport, that flight going with our cases but not us due to space, 24 hours in the airport and a massive list of passengers not reducing, we hired a car and drove to Chicago. It was an adventure but I wouldn’t advise it without planning beforehand. Car was £1700 extra 🙈

Unless it's a very late flight you need to drive up the evening before and either book a hotel or if it's a flight before 10am just go straight to the terminal

It depends on the terms and conditions of your insurance. Mine covers missed flights due to “significant delays en route to airport via car or public transport” - but you have to prove very clearly that you allowed enough time, and that eg. the roads were completely blocked or your train scheduled to arrive 3 hours before take-off never turned up.

I pay a small premium for this so not sure if it’s included in your policy. If I needed to claim on this in your case, the insurance company would reimburse me for new flights taken later that day / tomorrow, and I am sure you can arrive at your destination in Thailand via an indirect flight, if needs be. I wouldn’t wait around for a week - I’d rather have an extra couple hours of travel time.