“Essential Travel“ and Holiday Insurance

Whenindoubt

I’m planning on travelling to Spain in a few weeks with my wife to visit her 77 yo mother who lives there.  It was an annual planned trip booked anyway and I had insurance booked before covid-19 started so I’m covered.  

Unfortunately, during the covid-19 lockdown my father-in-law died there and there was no funeral. My wife and her mother are desperate to see each other, however, my travel insurance company say its not “essential travel” so we aren’t covered to go.
I consider, struggling with bereavement,  depression and mental health as reasons we should be covered.  
What are the views here?

anticlaus105

Sorry for your loss. I'm with Virgin and they seem pretty lax with what is essential travel or not, saying I can decide. I'm not sure this advice would hold up though should a claim arise. Who are you insured with? Is the trip already booked/paid for?

Whenindoubt

Thank you. Insured with Saga.  Trip all paid for.  We only paid the last instalment on the rental a week ago.  If it wasn’t to see family and under these conditions we would cancel.

blindman

This thread has two references to Insurers who will cover trips when FCO advice is against it.
Battleface.com


Do you own research though.

ailbhejoe

Whenindoubt said:

I’m planning on travelling to Spain in a few weeks with my wife to visit her 77 yo mother who lives there.  It was an annual planned trip booked anyway and I had insurance booked before covid-19 started so I’m covered.  

Unfortunately, during the covid-19 lockdown my father-in-law died there and there was no funeral. My wife and her mother are desperate to see each other, however, my travel insurance company say its not “essential travel” so we aren’t covered to go.
I consider, struggling with bereavement,  depression and mental health as reasons we should be covered.  
What are the views here?

You can get insurance to travel against FCO advice - Battleface.com and Campbell Irvine have both given me quotes to travel to Spain next week.  The first one will cover for expenses relating to contracting Covid but the second one will not - but all other normal things are covered (baggage, injury, medical expenses).  Neither will cover Covid cancellations. It's worth contracting them if you want to travel and have insurance.

Whenindoubt

I’ve escalated with SAGA.  The “Gov.uk” site classes “Essential travel” as “Whether travel is essential or not is your own decision. You may have urgent family business commitments to attend to.  Circumstances differ from person to person. Only you can make an informed decision based on the risks”.

Perhaps should read.. you and the insurance company who Void insurance policies regardless of the circumstances if FCO “essential travel” is in place.

Thank you so much for the other insurance companies.  Unless they lock down the area she lives, we’re going.

rosiesposies

I agree those are reasons to go, but potentially adding another layer of stress fighting with an insurance company about what is covered and what isnt might be adding unnecessary burden to the situation. find alternate cover with one of the above - I got a 2 person single trip for 11 days in Sept quoted at £75 from battleface. worth it to have peace of mind.

Whenindoubt said:

I’m planning on travelling to Spain in a few weeks with my wife to visit her 77 yo mother who lives there.  It was an annual planned trip booked anyway and I had insurance booked before covid-19 started so I’m covered.  

Unfortunately, during the covid-19 lockdown my father-in-law died there and there was no funeral. My wife and her mother are desperate to see each other, however, my travel insurance company say its not “essential travel” so we aren’t covered to go.
I consider, struggling with bereavement,  depression and mental health as reasons we should be covered.  
What are the views here?

Whenindoubt

Will do Rosie. Going to wait a few days before and then go with battleface.  Escalated to customer services now with saga, wasting my breath.
Just to add to the drama EasyJet have cancelled my return leg.  Was very simple to rebook the day earlier and I’m not going to sweat a day less on a trip.  Fingers crossed the situation doesn’t get worse over there.