Travel insurance pains

daljure

Please some ideas:

I bought a year travel insurance cover for my family from Marks & Spencer, essentially to cover for our summer holiday trip to South America. In order to get there we had to make a connecting flight in Atlanta (USA), however our flight out of London was delayed 3 hours (bad weather) and, therefore we missed our flight out of Atlanta. In the end we had to spend 4 nights in Atlanta before they could get us seats to our final destination.
On our return to the UK I made the claim for the expenses for those 4 nights to Marks & Spencer but they declined it because the initial delay had been less than 12 hours & because they don't cover missed connection flights (not outside the UK anyway).
I personally think that the idea of getting travel insurance is to cover for all these unexpected events, but again, it seems that the big players get their way by means of interpretation of the small print.

That said, firstly, I'd be very thankful if anybody can tell me whether I have any basis to make a claim anywhere.
And, secondly, if there is an insurance provider that does not exclude these events, so I can get it in the future.

P.S: Delta Airlines, our carrier eschewed liability (i.e. didn't offer any compensation at all) because the reason of the delay -bad weather- was out of their hands.

Thanks

D

dmg24

If the exception is noted within the insurance policy, then you have no claim. It is not 'big players' getting their way, it is you not having read the terms and conditions adequately upon purchase.

RibAd

daljure wrote: »

however our flight out of London was delayed 3 hours (bad weather) and, therefore we missed our flight out of Atlanta. In the end we had to spend 4 nights in Atlanta before they could get us seats to our final destination.
On our return to the UK I made the claim for the expenses for those 4 nights to Marks & Spencer but they declined it because the initial delay had been less than 12 hours & because they don't cover missed connection flights (not outside the UK anyway).

two things: it's all in M&S's website and in their policy wording (underwriters are AXA)

Firstly, M&S state on their website: http://www6.marksandspencer.com/pages/default.asp?PageId=PolSum&Product=TI)

"Full details are in the Policy booklet. A specimen Policy booklet is available to download from our website, or on request, and will be sent to you automatically if you choose to take out a policy. It is important that you read the Policy booklet carefully when you receive it."


Taken from M&S Policy available online.

http://www6.marksandspencer.com/pdf/TravelInsPolicy.pdf

Section H – Delayed departure
What is covered


If departure of the Public Transport on which You are booked to travel is delayed at the final departure point from

or return to the United Kingdom for at least 12 hours from the scheduled time of departure due to:
a) strike or
b) industrial action or
c) adverse weather conditions or
d) mechanical breakdown of, or a technical fault occurring in, the Public Transport on which You are booked to travel.

We will pay:

1. £30 for the first completed 12 hours delay and £30 for each full 12 hours delay thereafter up to a maximum of £450 or

2. Up to £6,000 for any irrecoverable unused travel and accommodation costs and other pre-paid charges which You have paid or are contracted to pay if after a minimum 12 hours has elapsed, You choose to cancel Your Trip.

daljure

The claim would be possible under section I (missed departure) of the M&S booklet. The problem is the interpretation of the wording of such section.
If I had enough money I'm sure a good lawyer would get me this case, but, I insist it would be about taking on the big players!!!
Can't afford it!

D

RibAd

Again taken from the M&S policy online: http://www6.marksandspencer.com/pdf/TravelInsPolicy.pdf

Section I – Missed departure



We will pay up to £1,000 (limited to £300 for Trips solely within the United Kingdom) for reasonable additional accommodation (room only) and travel expenses necessarily incurred in reaching Your overseas destination, or returning to the United Kingdom, if You fail to

arrive at the international departure point in time to board the

Public Transport on which You are booked to travel on the initial international journey of the Trip as a result of:

1. The failure of other Public Transport or

2. An accident to, or breakdown of the vehicle in which You are travelling or
3. An accident or breakdown occurring ahead of You on a
motorway or dual carriageway which causes an unexpected delay to the vehicle in which You are travelling or
4. Strike, industrial action or adverse weather conditions.

Ok... firstly it's not called MISSED DEPARTURE for nothing.
This section bascially covers you in the event that you are unable to reach your international departure point - which in this case would have been London as you were due to travel Internationally from the UK to another cournty - if for example

1. You were travelling on the National Express and it broke down or train

2. You have an accident or break down in your card

3. An accident/breakdown happens on the motorway that has not been notified on the radio news, but happens suddenly of which you were not aware of when you stepped into your vehicle and causes you to be delayed

4. unplanned and unintended Strike/Industrial action and extreame weather such as sudden mudslides, flooding, etc

Because you were not delayed in arriving to your International DEPARTURE point ie LONDON you have no grounds for a claim.