Travel Insurance and Swine Flu

ammegsknab

Hi everyone,
I am booked to go to Florida at the start of June for two weeks. The flights were all paid by credit card but the villa is a private rental paid by cheque. I don't have travel insurance yet but wasn't sure that if the Swine Flu problems were to progress and my flights cancelled would any insurance cover me? Also would it cover a privately rented villa?

Obviously this situation is very new however it looks like the virus has already disrupted travel arrangements for people to specific areas and I want to be covered in case the situation escalates.
Any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks
Gemma

aaranj

If the flights cost over £100 then because you used your credit card, you would be protected under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. As for the Villa, I'm not sure. Has the cheuqe already been cashed?

dzug1

If the flights were cancelled it's near certain that the airline would refund anyway though you've got section 75 as a backup

The villa is between you and the owner - insurance does not normally cover this type of thing. Not sure that paying by card would have made any difference - the owner could argue he fulfilled his end of the bargain by making the property available. Not his fault you didn't turn up.

richardw

dzug1 wrote: »

The villa is between you and the owner - insurance does not normally cover this type of thing.

Some policy's can cover this, check the wording.

HoofeHearted

As a general point, you should have travel insurance from the day you book the holiday. Then, if you have to cancel due to illness, bereavement etc, you are covered.

dzug1

richardw wrote: »

Some policy's can cover this, check the wording.

True, some may - but many (?most) have a general exclusion clause for anything caused by governmental action.

Agree - check the wording

richardw

Yes, difficult one, always double check and read all the details, if there is an over-riding exclusion such as civil commotion.

Alex_payney

I would also check that you are covered if you travel - i had to shop around as a lot of insurers are not covering if you catch swine flu. I have bought an insurance policy with insurewithease.com they do not cover cancellation but (as long as you are not traveling against foreign office advise) will cover you for medical bills if you catch it. :j

dacouch

Spam SPAM...

Most companies cover Medical Bills for swine flu as long as you are not travelling against Foreign Office Advice. The company he promotes (Looks like he works for them to me if you look at his other post and take into account new poster and resurrecting old posts) do not cover cancellation due to Swine Flu which there are other companies that do technically offer cover for this.

His policy is underwritten by Great Lakes with First Assist providing assistance, have a look through the forums and you will find a couple of recent problems with First Assist (One has now been sorted out after the Media intervened)

Alex_payney

This is not a very constructive comment i dont not work for the company and was mereley trying to post a helpfull comment.

Alex

Alex_payney

Ignoring dacouch i have been told that thr your organiser is responsible for a refund of the holiday if the trip is cancelled following swine flu/ foreign office advise.
Does anyone know if this is right ?

Alex