Covid "Friendly" travel insurance?
Discussion
Morning all,
Having checked my bank account & other insurance policies, just in case it's been bundled in somewhere, I've realised the only travel insurance I have is linked to Amex.
I'm planning a single UK trip this year (probably a cottage rental & won't be paid for via Amex), so think I need a one off & then look at an annual policy next year if/when restrictions/quarantines lift.
A brief look around at "moneysavingexpert" etc suggests it's pretty common to be able to claim if/we fall ill with Covid & cancel - as per normal I guess. However, what I can't see is anything that protects us if we're prevented from travelling. ie, we go into lockdown, or my destination does.
Anyone have any suggestions for cover to provide this or am I being naive in thinking such a thing is even available these days?
Chs, CF
Having checked my bank account & other insurance policies, just in case it's been bundled in somewhere, I've realised the only travel insurance I have is linked to Amex.
I'm planning a single UK trip this year (probably a cottage rental & won't be paid for via Amex), so think I need a one off & then look at an annual policy next year if/when restrictions/quarantines lift.
A brief look around at "moneysavingexpert" etc suggests it's pretty common to be able to claim if/we fall ill with Covid & cancel - as per normal I guess. However, what I can't see is anything that protects us if we're prevented from travelling. ie, we go into lockdown, or my destination does.
Anyone have any suggestions for cover to provide this or am I being naive in thinking such a thing is even available these days?
Chs, CF
We were supposed to be going to Perth, Western Australia in early December but that’s now not going to happen.
Flights that are with Qatar are still happening and have been doing so for a while, looks like the flight will be going in Dec but Oz aren’t letting anyone in so either have to take a voucher from Qatar to hopefully use within 2yrs or cancel and lose £1900 (£2100 returned).
I’ll wait until nearer the time and hopefully the flight is cancelled but I’m not holding my breath!
My travel insurance won’t pay out as they don’t pay if you can’t get into the country/the country isn’t giving out Visa’s.
They will pay out if one of the family gets Covid and we can’t go.
So between rock and a hard place, if the flight isn’t cancelled I’m currently thinking of cancelling and taking the partial refund.
Flights that are with Qatar are still happening and have been doing so for a while, looks like the flight will be going in Dec but Oz aren’t letting anyone in so either have to take a voucher from Qatar to hopefully use within 2yrs or cancel and lose £1900 (£2100 returned).
I’ll wait until nearer the time and hopefully the flight is cancelled but I’m not holding my breath!
My travel insurance won’t pay out as they don’t pay if you can’t get into the country/the country isn’t giving out Visa’s.
They will pay out if one of the family gets Covid and we can’t go.
So between rock and a hard place, if the flight isn’t cancelled I’m currently thinking of cancelling and taking the partial refund.
CheesecakeRunner said:
I've just insured next year's UK-based summer holiday with https://www.staysure.co.uk/. There is coverage included for if we can't go because we're required to isolate or we come down with it, or due to the illness or death of a family member. Wasn't a silly price.
There's no cover if a lockdown either at home or destination prevents travel, I couldn't find anything that offered that. There's also the usual exclusion of no cover if FCO advise against travel to the destination.
Thanks CheescakeRunner- seems to be the general consensus. Figured it would be worth asking the question on here, just in case some intrepid PH googler-ist had found the answer.There's no cover if a lockdown either at home or destination prevents travel, I couldn't find anything that offered that. There's also the usual exclusion of no cover if FCO advise against travel to the destination.
Chs all - appreciate the feedback. I'll post on here if something turns up, but am not holding my breath.
Look after yourselves, CF
Jimboka said:
In my experience, no insurance will pay out for covid
My bank travel insurance just pointed me towards CC / chargeback etc etc
They will try every trick in the book to weasel out of paying
Chs Jimboka. I've heard a couple of howlers. One friend had to cancel & discovered that the villa rental firm had changed their T&C's after the booking was made & refused a refund. Fortunately he's a bit of a stickler for procedure, (I once had to witness him renting a car at Barcelona airport - the holiday was half over by the time he'd gone through the agreement line by line...), so had downloaded the T&C's from the time of making the booking.Smart move, but negotiations still ongoing....My bank travel insurance just pointed me towards CC / chargeback etc etc
They will try every trick in the book to weasel out of paying
Much appreciated, CF.
duckson said:
We were supposed to be going to Perth, Western Australia in early December but that’s now not going to happen.
Flights that are with Qatar are still happening and have been doing so for a while, looks like the flight will be going in Dec but Oz aren’t letting anyone in so either have to take a voucher from Qatar to hopefully use within 2yrs or cancel and lose £1900 (£2100 returned).
I’ll wait until nearer the time and hopefully the flight is cancelled but I’m not holding my breath!
My travel insurance won’t pay out as they don’t pay if you can’t get into the country/the country isn’t giving out Visa’s.
They will pay out if one of the family gets Covid and we can’t go.
So between rock and a hard place, if the flight isn’t cancelled I’m currently thinking of cancelling and taking the partial refund.
It's getting like a bl**dy poker game!! Flights that are with Qatar are still happening and have been doing so for a while, looks like the flight will be going in Dec but Oz aren’t letting anyone in so either have to take a voucher from Qatar to hopefully use within 2yrs or cancel and lose £1900 (£2100 returned).
I’ll wait until nearer the time and hopefully the flight is cancelled but I’m not holding my breath!
My travel insurance won’t pay out as they don’t pay if you can’t get into the country/the country isn’t giving out Visa’s.
They will pay out if one of the family gets Covid and we can’t go.
So between rock and a hard place, if the flight isn’t cancelled I’m currently thinking of cancelling and taking the partial refund.
We've an added complication, in that Mrs CF has an autoimmune disease so, we're really reluctant to take any risks. In fact we just decided last night to not to book up on the basis of potentially losing a thousand quid if we, or north yorkshire (our intended destination) were to go into lockdown & the cottage rental agency decided they didn't want to play nice. We're in Northamptonshire, which is on a watchlist/at risk list right now, so I think we'll have a week of local country parks, dog walks & pub lunches instead. Roll on 2021. Er, 2022? Gulp.
Best of luck with your flights & thanks for your response, CF
I am searching for quotes for a road trip to Luxembourg and that part is fine, but if Luxembourg and France are on the naughty list (all but essential travel) is the travel insurance valid in any case? To me it sounds as I am not covered.
insurance said:
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) allows travel to some countries and territories exempted from restrictions. Check the FCO list for exempt countries.
These exemptions could change and if there is advice against travel to your destination at the time of your trip and you choose to travel, you will not be covered by any travel insurance you purchase. You will also not be covered if you choose to cancel your trip.
These exemptions could change and if there is advice against travel to your destination at the time of your trip and you choose to travel, you will not be covered by any travel insurance you purchase. You will also not be covered if you choose to cancel your trip.
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