Holidays affected by the virus: FCO advisory

[MustBeDueSomeBetterFeet]

Just wondering if anyone has been able to claim on their travel insurance, based on the FCO's advice against non-essential travel?

From what I've seen, given nearly all flights/holidays were cancelled, people have been either refunded/rescheduled for breaks. Obviously if the flight is cancelled, you have options.

We are due to go away in 5 weeks, and reviewing my policy, it makes no reference to FCO advice, or to pandemics.

Therefore, I'm wondering at what stage, I can reasonably claim. Would I have to wait to see if the FCO advice remained on the day I am due to fly out?

I am obviously trying to get hold of my insurer, but wondered if anyone had experienced this so I can know what to expect!!

Thanks.

Your first port of call should be to the tour operator - they are legally required to refund you if the holiday is cancelled.

Why would you expect to claim from your insurer rather than get a refund from your holiday company? Have you booked a package that would be covered under the Package Travel Regulations?

I've booked everything separately, so flights (Easyjet, only cancelling one week out from departure) and villa with a villa owner.

I'm obviously going to ask the villa owner to move the booking (it's in Portugal so I'm still waiting to see what they will do with borders/quarantine etc) but she may refuse if she's allowed to let it and the Portuguese let us in? However in that situation, if the FCO still advises against travel, I guess we may need to claim on travel insurance at that point.

Or I guess if the flights are cancelled, I'd claim the villa booking back on insurance because I can't get there.

I think I'm overthinking this but I really hate the continuous uncertainty over every plan in my life!!

I believe your insurer will have expected you to negotiate refunds yourself first, before approaching them, and possibly claiming via your credit card.

So in the case of your villa, if the owner refuses a refund or rebook, insists they are open and available to you ie they can provide as per your contract, but FCO advice is still to not travel to that country, then you should have a claim.

My insurer, Aviva, is only dealing with travel claims if you are due to travel in the next 7 days, so check timescales on your insurer's website first.

I understand the frustration about lack of control and certainty. I think though that there is little you can do until around two weeks before your travel date - by then, it will be clear whether your plans are likely to go ahead or not, and you can decide whether to move the arrangements to a future date (even next year), or claim refunds.

We’re in a similar situation and it’s the not knowing that’s difficult

@WotsitWiggle Thank you. That's what I'm thinking too. There are other parts of the holiday that are refundable (car hire - Hertz!!), hotel and an apartment, so ultimately I think it's just the villa section that'll be troublesome.

@FlexibleFox I definitely share your pain. I'm not saying I definitely want to travel (the two week quarantine is no problem given when we're travelling) and if I lose all the money, so be it. We're all fit and well at the end of the day!!