Family Flight not covered

patsy2003

Hi all
i booked our 1st family holiday abroad last May 2019 to go for 1week in May 28 2020 (6 of us) I rang insurance company asked if they definitely covered cancellation as I wasn’t sure of high school exam dates (year 11) I was told yes absolutely But do read the policy, I booked the policy without checking cancellation reasons.  I checked high school dates November and it was main exams few days into our holiday I submitted holiday request to high school which was declined because it would have been gcse final tests, I had to cancel holiday with Onthebeach as soon as I cancelled my account was closed making it hard to get documents from them, my insurance said I wasn’t covered for school exam dates and I cannot have refund, I went to financial Ombusman and after there investigation decided I wasn’t in my rights to a refund but I should still contact onthebeach for flight refund, I have emailed onthebeach twice since April and haven’t had any reply, including cancellation fee I have lost £1,654.00 that was just flight costs with extra leg room not hotel room & food etc.  It has been a world pandemic and flight/holidays were all cancelled regardless.  I’m really disappointed & realise the importance of reading policies it’s a mistake I won’t make again...

QuackQuackOops

patsy2003 said:

Hi all
i booked our 1st family holiday abroad last May 2019 to go for 1week in May 28 2020 (6 of us) I rang insurance company asked if they definitely covered cancellation as I wasn’t sure of high school exam dates (year 11) I was told yes absolutely But do read the policy, I booked the policy without checking cancellation reasons.  I checked high school dates November and it was main exams few days into our holiday I submitted holiday request to high school which was declined because it would have been gcse final tests, I had to cancel holiday with Onthebeach as soon as I cancelled my account was closed making it hard to get documents from them, my insurance said I wasn’t covered for school exam dates and I cannot have refund, I went to financial Ombusman and after there investigation decided I wasn’t in my rights to a refund but I should still contact onthebeach for flight refund, I have emailed onthebeach twice since April and haven’t had any reply, including cancellation fee I have lost £1,654.00 that was just flight costs with extra leg room not hotel room & food etc.  It has been a world pandemic and flight/holidays were all cancelled regardless.  I’m really disappointed & realise the importance of reading policies it’s a mistake I won’t make again...

Why you booked for May, when you had a child in Year 11 is very strange....and no, no insurance would cover against that anyway.

As you cancelled the holiday, you wont be covered under coronavirus cancellation rules. Had you left it, you would have gotten a full refund.
Yes, an expensive lesson to learn.

Mrsn

It’s a very expensive lesson to learn I’m afraid. If you cancel then that’s how it works, the pandemic doesn’t change that.

Life__Goes__On

patsy2003 said:

Hi all
i booked our 1st family holiday abroad last May 2019 to go for 1week in May 28 2020 (6 of us) I rang insurance company asked if they definitely covered cancellation as I wasn’t sure of high school exam dates (year 11) I was told yes absolutely But do read the policy, I booked the policy without checking cancellation reasons.  I checked high school dates November and it was main exams few days into our holiday I submitted holiday request to high school which was declined because it would have been gcse final tests, I had to cancel holiday with Onthebeach as soon as I cancelled my account was closed making it hard to get documents from them, my insurance said I wasn’t covered for school exam dates and I cannot have refund, I went to financial Ombusman and after there investigation decided I wasn’t in my rights to a refund but I should still contact onthebeach for flight refund, I have emailed onthebeach twice since April and haven’t had any reply, including cancellation fee I have lost £1,654.00 that was just flight costs with extra leg room not hotel room & food etc.  It has been a world pandemic and flight/holidays were all cancelled regardless.  I’m really disappointed & realise the importance of reading policies it’s a mistake I won’t make again...

Was it a package holiday your bought?  If you still have your paperwork the ATOL cert will tell you bottom right,  will say either single or multi package.
How much did you pay to OTB in total?