Travel Insurance

coronalrsr2020

I have been turned down for a refund on my holiday to Benidorm due to Corona virus.  We travelled on 13.3.20 and on that date at the time of travel there was no pandemic.  We arrived in Spain at 3 p.m. and then at 3.30 p.m. Spain announced its lockdown.  We had to be 'rescued' to fly home on 16.3.20. The travel insurance company have refused a refund.  Also, I tried to cancel my travel insurance policy as I still have a full year on it but cannot travel due to the virus.  The travel insurance company said I would lose all my money if I cancel because I have used it for one trip.  Do I have any rights to claim?  And do I have a right to a refund on my insurance if I cancel?

Aylesbury_Duck

coronalrsr2020 said:

I have been turned down for a refund on my holiday to Benidorm due to Corona virus.  We travelled on 13.3.20 and on that date at the time of travel there was no pandemic.  We arrived in Spain at 3 p.m. and then at 3.30 p.m. Spain announced its lockdown.  We had to be 'rescued' to fly home on 16.3.20. The travel insurance company have refused a refund.  Also, I tried to cancel my travel insurance policy as I still have a full year on it but cannot travel due to the virus.  The travel insurance company said I would lose all my money if I cancel because I have used it for one trip.  Do I have any rights to claim?  And do I have a right to a refund on my insurance if I cancel?

You'd have to ask the insurer why they denied your claim.  I suspect it was because on the 13th March it was very much known that a worldwide pandemic was in full swing, so I'm not sure why you say there was no pandemic?!  It was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January and officially declared a Pandemic on 12th March - before you travelled.

You have been covered for a trip so if their terms are that you don't get a refund for remaining unused insurance, those are the terms.  Check what you agreed to when you bought the policy to see if that's correct.

coronalrsr2020

But it was not declared a pandemic on 12.3.20 because I checked on the Government website on 12.3.20 and again before I travelled on 13.3.20.  At that time the government were not advising against travel to Spain.  If they had, I wouldn't have gone to the airport.  I would have known that I could have got a refund due to the Government's advice.  Jet2 wouldn't have carried out the flight if the Government had advised against it.  But thank you for bothering to reply to my question.

Aylesbury_Duck

It was: http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/health-emergencies/coronavirus-covid-19/news/news/2020/3/who-announces-covid-19-outbreak-a-pandemic

I suspect that's why your claim was denied.  Have you asked them for their reasoning?

Browntoa

As above , you travelled after the who pandemic announcement

coronalrsr2020

Thank you for replying to my query.  I didn't know WHO had made an announcement.  As I say, on 13.3.20 before travelling to the airport I checked the Gov.UK website again and there was nothing to say they recommended NOT travelling to Spain.  Jet2 must not have known it was a pandemic or they would not have flown us out.  My sister told me that we must have actually been mid-flight when the announcement was made.

Nebulous2

What does your insurance say about FCO advice? Generally that would be the deciding factor as to whether you should or shouldn’t travel. I’ll bet your insurance conditions don’t mention WHO declaring a pandemic. (It may say pandemic isn’t covered) The FCO general advice against travel was the 17th, with people being told to come home ASAP on the 23rd.