Gatwick snow closure 1-2 december - insurance co challenging claim - advice?

usignuolo

My sister and bro in law had two flights booked to Spain on 2 December from Gatwick. Then of course it snowed on 30 November and Gatwick was officially closed until 6.00 am on 2 december. My sister and OH were due to fly out at midday on 2 december and advised by their airline not to travel due to the general disruption. She then claimed on her insurance.

Insurance co have challenged this claim on grounds the airport reopened for business on 2 December and she has to prove there were no available flights to her destination. As it was she was in any case snowbound in a hilly part of Buckinghamshire and would have had great difficulty getting to the airport if at all. (Many roads closed even main ones there as it is steep countryside in the Chilterns).

So they did not go to Gatwick as she was told on phone by airline not to travel. Any advice?

Westin

Check with the airline to see if her flight did actually operate. If it didn't because of the weather, ask for a cancellation letter from the airline. Forward that to the insurers.

The above may take some time as the airlines have natuarally been very very busy.

If the airline have cancelled the flight she will be able to claim a refund or rebook via that airline.

The problem may be that if she has DIY'ed her holiday, even with the flight cancelled she might still be liable for the costs of her holiday accommodation, transfers etc. If booked as a package holiday all those costs would be refunded if the flight could not operate due to the weather.