Insurance claim for holiday booked to Italy

Raposinha

I have an annual travel insurance policy and have booked a weeks holiday in Italy for July of this year.  Further to the new FCO advice, it doesn't look like we will be travelling.  
I've looked at my policy documents but I can't see anything that either confirms or denies that I am covered for this.  Is anyone able to point me in the right direction please?  The only part that might cover it is under Cancellation & Curtailment is states that I am NOT covered for "Claims arising from prohibitive regulations by the government of any country".  Would this be it and mean I am not covered?  I booked flights and accommodation independently so it wasn't a package holiday.
Any advice would be appreciated.  Thank you.

mr_stripey

generally speaking, from my own (limited) experience, if the FCO advises against travel to a country/region, then your insurance should cover any costs arising from cancelling. Likewise, if you did travel in spite of the advise not to, then your insurance would not cover any claims arising from being in that country.

If the flights are cancelled anyway then should get a refund on those. The accomodation might have to be claimed back through the insurance. I am in a similar position with an upcoming trip to Croatia (potentially) if the situation worsens and spreads to there.

TELLIT01

July is still nearly 4 months away and advice is about current travel.  It's probable that advice will have changed again within a few weeks.  If flights are cancelled you will be entitled to a refund from the airline.  Check your accommodation booking to see if it is refundable or not.

Raposinha

TELLIT01 said:

July is still nearly 4 months away and advice is about current travel.  It's probable that advice will have changed again within a few weeks.  If flights are cancelled you will be entitled to a refund from the airline.  Check your accommodation booking to see if it is refundable or not.

Thank you.  I have no plans to cancel at this stage as I would still love to be able to go. Am just trying to understand where I stand with regards to getting a refund if it turns out that we it's recommended we don't travel.  I don't know if my policy covers me if the airline doesn't cancel the flight.

Raposinha

mr_stripey said:

generally speaking, from my own (limited) experience, if the FCO advises against travel to a country/region, then your insurance should cover any costs arising from cancelling. Likewise, if you did travel in spite of the advise not to, then your insurance would not cover any claims arising from being in that country.

If the flights are cancelled anyway then should get a refund on those. The accomodation might have to be claimed back through the insurance. I am in a similar position with an upcoming trip to Croatia (potentially) if the situation worsens and spreads to there.

Thanks.  I am relatively confident that if the airline cancels the flight that I will get  my money back.  Just wasn't sure whether I would if the flight was still operating but FCO advise not to go.
I'll keep the booking for now anyway as things could change between now and July.  Just wanted to get a bit ahead of myself in case I need to make other arrangements.

lisyloo

Generally, insurance would cover FCO advise after booking.

Can you tell us which insurer you are with and if applicable which policy e.g. gold, silver, economy.

Thrugelmir

Who are you flying with? Maybe some casaulties in the airline industry given the current turmoil. 

Caz3121

Raposinha said:

Thank you.  I have no plans to cancel at this stage as I would still love to be able to go. Am just trying to understand where I stand with regards to getting a refund if it turns out that we it's recommended we don't travel.  I don't know if my policy covers me if the airline doesn't cancel the flight.

the MSE article should provide some clarity https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/02/coronavirus-travel-help-and-your-rights/
there is a table that shows how different insurers treat different situations

lisyloo

Thrugelmir said:

Who are you flying with? Maybe some casaulties in the airline industry given the current turmoil. 

Not sure of the relevance here as there are other ways to get to Italy e.g. by train.

In the current situation the overriding reason for cancellation would be FCO advice.

In normal times if an airline fails you would try to get another flight or possibly a train, so one failed airline would not justify cancellation. Insurance companies expect you to mitigate losses so if covered for airline failure they would pay for new flights not cancellation.

If you mean FCO could be OK but airline could fail, then that is a different question and depends on the policy and options purchased.

Thrugelmir

lisyloo said:

Thrugelmir said:

Who are you flying with? Maybe some casaulties in the airline industry given the current turmoil. 

Not sure of the relevance here as there are other ways to get to Italy e.g. by train.

In the current situation the overriding reason for cancellation would be FCO advice.

In normal times if an airline fails you would try to get another flight or possibly a train, so one failed airline would not justify cancellation. Insurance companies expect you to mitigate losses so if covered for airline failure they would pay for new flights not cancellation.

If you mean FCO could be OK but airline could fail, then that is a different question and depends on the policy and options purchased.

Generally travel insurance does not cover airlines going bust. Worth checking your own policy. 
As the trip isn't until July. If the situation is still ongoing. Then the things would be very bleak indeed. Not just airlines suffering either. Hence the basis of my comment. 

Raposinha

lisyloo said:

Generally, insurance would cover FCO advise after booking.

Can you tell us which insurer you are with and if applicable which policy e.g. gold, silver, economy.

Hi.  The policy is through insurefor.com and insurer is Rock insurance services.  It's the Premier cover.