Urgent - Travel insurance to cover cancellation due to bereavement

SpadgeBoo

I'm sure I can still get insured, I just can't make a claim for that particular reason. How can me getting sick while on holiday and claiming for a doctor's visit be affected by my partner's Grandma being sick back home? Surely what you're saying is that I can't get insurance to cover me for the particular eventuality of cancelling due to her passing away.

richardw

SpadgeBoo wrote: »

I just can't make a claim for that particular reason.........I can't get insurance to cover me for the particular eventuality of cancelling due to her passing away.

I think that is the case.

SpadgeBoo

Janie2008, what makes you say this? I've trawled through the website and can't really find any such confirmation. I've also just spent 40mins on the phone to Virgin to be told 2 contradicting answers by 2 different staff members...neither absolutely guaranteed a full refund on our booking. I do hope you're right. Although I don't intend to cancel, it would be reassuring to know that what you say is correct.

Incapuppy

SpadgeBoo wrote: »

How can me getting sick while on holiday and claiming for a doctor's visit be affected by my partner's Grandma being sick back home? .

It won't and as far as I can see no-one has suggested that.

I'm not entirely sure how Janie2008 has claimed what they have without being aware of the T&Cs of the fare you booked.

If your ticket is non-refundable and not changeable and you decide to travel do you have funds available to purchase new one way tickets should you need to curtail your trip?

SpadgeBoo

It was the general sweeping statement of 'you can't get insured' which led me to ask the question which you have quoted above.

Yes, on the Virgin website, it does seem to be dependable on fare rules.

From what I understand, the ticket is changeable for one year. The problem with this is that a) this was a holiday that my parents have paid for my half for, as well as for the villa. b) I'm due to fly 5th Mar, if I cancel on 4th in order for them to 'change' the ticket, I have to stipulate at that time which dates I want to go in the next year - this is impossible since if I have cancelled, it will be due to a bereavement...the last thing on my partner's mind will be discussing an alternative holiday date. He is about to start a new job, I'm in the middle of a Masters degree with exams and deadlines, due to start another Masters degree in September. I have no idea what date will be okay and the ticket doesn't stay 'open'. As I said, being a poor postgraduate student, my parents are kindly funding my trip, so no, unfortunately I don't have the funds available to curtail it. I appreciate your suggestions of alternatives.

Of course all this may be irrelevant. The hope is she's going to be fine. It's just nice to know where we stand in advance, as a precaution.

Janie2008

Did you read the rules completely, under the bit where it says you can pospone for a year it says you can also get a full refund.

* If a passenger already has a booking with us and is either unable to travel at all or needs to postpone their trip due to bereavement, compassionate reasons or hospitalisation, we will cancel their booking, and they will have a year from the date of issue to use the ticket.

* If the passenger wishes to cancel their reservation completely then we will give them a full refund on any published fare.

Incapuppy

Janie2008 wrote: »

Did you read the rules completely, under the bit where it says you can pospone for a year it says you can also get a full refund.

* If a passenger already has a booking with us and is either unable to travel at all or needs to postpone their trip due to bereavement, compassionate reasons or hospitalisation, we will cancel their booking, and they will have a year from the date of issue to use the ticket.

* If the passenger wishes to cancel their reservation completely then we will give them a full refund on any published fare.

Janie2008, unless you are fully aware of the class of ticket that has been purchased and the associated T&Cs could you please refrain from posting potentially misleading information.

lisyloo

It was the general sweeping statement of 'you can't get insured' which led me to ask the question which you have quoted above.

You cannot get insured for your boyfriends grandmothers death or serious illness because it has already happened.
However you can get insured for everything else e.g. you having a medical claim or your mum/dad dying etc.

I am sure this is what was meant.

This is why you should get insurance when you book.
I realise it may be possible to get it instantaneously but a week is too long to leave it.
You could theorectically be knowkced over by a bus when you walk out the travel agents.
Of course there is nothign to stop you bokoing travel insrurance BEFORE you make the booking (there is normally a cooling off preiod if by any chance it was fully booked).

A practical altenative would be to sell on the holiday.
I'd start with family/friends/colleagues to see if anyone you know can take a bargain.
Even if you only get some of the money back it's better than nothing.

Janie2008

I wouldn't give information without being sure of my facts. Even if the ticket is a non refundable one this is waived for the death of a family member. Most airlines do this.

delwynshd

i just wouldnt think that your bf's grandma would give you the right to cancel, your not married im not that clued on all of the fare rules and insurance purposes but i dont think you could claim anything