if bad weather prevents you from going on holiday, can you claim?

Wulfrune

Hello, if bad weather prevents you from going on holiday, can you claim?

For example, we're planning a half term holiday in the sun. We live in London and the only place that we can fly there to is from Manchester, so if there's heavy snow which forces us to cancel the holiday, is there a chance that with the right cover we could claim for the holiday?

I would be grateful for any help that you could offer.

Thank you in advance.

rs65

Wulfrune wrote: »

so if there's heavy snow which forces us to cancel the holiday, is there a chance that with the right cover we could claim for the holiday?

Yes, but it depends what you mean by 'heavy snow which forces us to cancel'.

Some policies will cover missed departure due to provable delays or road closures, such as significant enough to be newsworthy.

forgotmyname

Define heavy snow, we get weather reports telling us not to go out unless essential when we get 1cm worth of snow. that melts 3 hours after it fell.

If that were the situation then they will probably say no you could have gone.

Wulfrune

Fair point and exactly why I'm asking.

csgohan4

Wulfrune wrote: »

Fair point and exactly why I'm asking.

What is their definition of adverse weather from the insurers?

agrinnall

I doubt very much if there is any destination in the sun that can be flown to from Manchester but can't be flown to from one or more of London's many airports, so your scenario is unlikely to happen.

muhandis

Interesting question, this is what Nationwide say about claiming for a missed departure in the travel insurance policy document.

To me it looks like poor weather causing traffic problems is a possible cause to claim but only if it is severe enough to be newsworthy.

The conditions re public transport seem far more lenient, just the train not keeping to its timetable.

Assuming these T&Cs are common across providers, in your place, if (living in London) I absolutely had to fly from Manchester in the depths of winter and not leave anything to chance, I'd plan to either get there the previous day or book an advance ticket on a train leaving a few hours buffer in case there are delays.

Do make sure your read the policy conditions for Missed departures before buying any policy.

---

Missed departure

What you are covered for

We will pay up to £1,000 per insured person for additional accommodation, travel expenses, meals and refreshments, if you fail to arrive at your departure point in time to board your booked transport and this is because of:
1. The vehicle in which you are travelling is involved in an accident or breaks down;
2. A delay involving your own vehicle where you missed your departure because of heavy traffic or road closures that were sufficiently severe to warrant reporting on a recognised motoring association web site or on television, news bulletins or in the press;
3. The scheduled public transport taking you to your departure point not running to timetable.

What you are not covered for (exclusions)

In addition to anything mentioned in the General Exclusions, we will not pay for claims which are a result of:
1. A strike or any form of industrial action which had been announced or commenced before you purchased the travel tickets, obtained confirmation of booking or before you departed from your home address.
2. Missed departure claims due to road traffic congestion or road closures where you have not left reasonable time to reach your departure point
on time.
3. If you did not use public transport and you missed your departure because of heavy traffic or road closures that were not sufficiently severe to warrant reporting on a recognised motoring association web site or on television, news bulletins or in the press.

---

Wulfrune wrote: »

Hello, if bad weather prevents you from going on holiday, can you claim?

For example, we're planning a half term holiday in the sun. We live in London and the only place that we can fly there to is from Manchester, so if there's heavy snow which forces us to cancel the holiday, is there a chance that with the right cover we could claim for the holiday?

I would be grateful for any help that you could offer.

Thank you in advance.