Spain Ryanair and Insurance not valid (bought in 2019)

Milesholly

Hi, I was supposed to be travelling tomorrow (Friday 14) to Spain on Ryanair but cannot due to FCO advice change only for non-essential travel and my wife is a keyworks and cannot quarantine for 14 days.    Ryaniar will not provide a refund, voucher or free move (the admin is £360 alone).
I have tried to claim on our annual Alpha Travel Insurance which we purchased in September 2019.   They have said that we are not covered as the policy states that if the FCO changes the advice not to fly then we are not covered and if we do fly against FCO guidance we are not covered!!!!! Seems like catch 22.   They have advised that I try chargeback via my credit card company.
I was hoping our insurance would have covered us.  Is there anything I can do with my Alpha or other actions to try and recover the £770 flight costs.
Thank you

Milesholly

* My wife is a Keyworker ! (out correction  )

eskbanker

If the flights weren't cancelled then Ryanair are under no obligation to offer anything if you essentially chose not to travel on them, and so a chargeback claim would also fail on the same grounds.  Your only hope in such circumstances is your travel insurance, so study the policy terms and conditions in detail to see if there's anything you can quote back to them....

Tammykitty

I have looked at the alpha travel insurance policies and the do say 
No cover is provided under this section (Cancellation) for: the advice or recommendation of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office applicable at the time of your departure. 
So unfortunately, you don't appear to have any cover

Milesholly

Thank you for your reply.   I have spoken with Alpha travel and we are not covered because of the following clause
"You are not covered for the advice or recommendation of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office applicable at the time of your departure"

Also states that not covered if "You travel against the advice or recommendations published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office applicable at the time of your departure."

Which seems to be useless as either way we are not covered which does not seem right when the government are advising not to travel and if we go against their advice to keep the flight then we are not covered either!!

Tammykitty

Milesholly said:

Thank you for your reply.   I have spoken with Alpha travel and we are not covered because of the following clause
"You are not covered for the advice or recommendation of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office applicable at the time of your departure"

Also states that not covered if "You travel against the advice or recommendations published by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office applicable at the time of your departure."

Which seems to be useless as either way we are not covered which does not seem right when the government are advising not to travel and if we go against their advice to keep the flight then we are not covered either!!

It doesn't seem right - but unfortunately that is the policy you bought - most will cover cancellation if FCO advice changes - but unfortunately yours doesn't - I don't think there is anything you can do.
If you still wanted to go - you could get travel insurance which does cover travelling against the advice of the FCO

Milesholly

Thanks, we are resigned to losing the money reluctantly and will be much more careful (probably like most people) about choosing airline and travel insurance.   We cannot travel unfortunately due to the quarantine on the return as school will have started and wife needs to be back.

tripled

Was that clause made clear at the time you brought it? Seems dubious that's a fair term if not - I'd make a formal complaint and raise it to the ombudsman, no guarantee of success but you have nothing to lose.

Milesholly

Was not specifically made clear at the time I bought it which was back in September and no COVID / Pandemic around.  I will do as your recommend thanks - nothing to lose as you say!!

[Deleted User]

It doesn’t seem right that insurance Is invalid if you follow FCO advice or if you don’t?   Would they still cover you for lost luggage, accidents etc (not anything CV related). Just wondering as seems bizarre that you aren’t covered either way?   Although this has been asked before.   As you say a learning curve for us all indeed.  

sheramber

there  have ben reports of several cheaper policies  having that statement. Not covered if you cancel, not covered if you go.

Of course, last year nobody considered  FCO advising against travel so probably didn't pay much hd to that restriction. .