Holiday booked and then FOC changes advice - Travel insurance still valid?

Irish_Steve

Hi all,

My son is due to go off on holiday to Tenerife at the end of Sept with his pal and his parents. The holiday was booked after the Foreign Office lifted restrictions so they thought it would be OK to go. Now that advise has changed and the FO is now saying essential travel only so I have dug out his travel insurance (annual insurance purchased in January of this year) and it says the following:
What is covered Before you reach your destination 1. We will pay you up to £3,000 for your unused travel, accommodation and other pre-paid charges (including excursions up to £250) that you cannot claim back from any other source if you cannot travel and have to cancel your trip as a result of: a) The public transport on which you were booked to travel from your home area being cancelled or delayed for at least 5 hours from the scheduled time of departure; or b) You being involuntarily denied boarding (because there are too many passengers for the seats available) and no suitable alternative flight could be provided within 5 hours; or c) The Travel Advice Unit of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) or other regulatory authority in a country to/from which you are travelling advising against all travel or all but essential travel to the country or specific area you are travelling to providing the advice came into force after you purchased this insurance or booked the trip (whichever is the later) and was within 28 days of your departure date; 

Now, to me that means he has travel insurance and is covered. I am trying to convince him not to go under current circumstances. A problem arises in that he handed cash over to his pal's parents to pay for his part of the holiday expense. Would he be able to make a claim if he didn't go? I'm trying to get as much info as possible before contacting his travel insurance company as they will probably try to palm me off. He has a "Gold" Annual Travel Insurance Policy with Coverwise Travel Insurance.
Any help is well appreciated!

Regards

Steve

[Deleted User]

They're not going to 'palm you off'.  That would be an additional service you'd need to pay for.

It sounds as if he will be covered, but if will depend on the exact timing and advice in force at the time as well as the exclusions of the policy.

Irish_Steve

Lol at the additional service!
And the holiday was booked by his pals parents during that time when all travel restrictions were lifted only to be put back in place about a month or so later. And even at that point, the Canaries were exempt only to be added later.
My question was more about how he could claim if he gave cash to his pal's Dad to cover his cost of the holiday - who would actually claim on travel insurance?

[Deleted User]

He would, on his insurance. Unless he was also covered on someone else's policy.

Irish_Steve

Deleted_User said:

He would, on his insurance. Unless he was also covered on someone else's policy.

How could be prove he had paid then especially if he paid his pal's dad in cash - would my son have to get a receipt from him? Sorry if these are naive questions, it's just that we have never been in this situation before.

I can't imagine that his pals parents would have him on their travel insurance, why would you pay to cover someone else's kid?

[Deleted User]

Whoever paid would provide the booking details and receipt.

I think it would be really odd if your son was getting himself insured by other families, which is why he needs to make the claim himself.

sheramber

We will pay you up to £3,000 for your unused travel, accommodation and other pre-paid charges (including excursions up to £250) that you cannot claim back from any other source 
Insurance will only cover costs that cannot be reclaimed. Be aware most are  considering a voucher, refund credit or alternative travel date a suitable recompense.

Has the holiday been cancelled?
Whoever booked ( the lead booker) needs to pursue a refund from the holiday provider. The insurance company will need proof of refusal to refund.

 For your son to claim on his insurance he will need proof of payment from whoever paid and the insurance will  apply  their cover to his share  of the total cost.