Insurance to cover if airline cancels flight, refunds me, but not enough to pay for alternative.

[Deleted User]

I'm looking to book a flight to Buenos Aires for next February with BA, but I see BA are currently cancelling all their flights to this destination.  It looks like they are selling these flights to get people's money, and then just cancelling them probably a few weeks before to avoid having to pay compensation.  Still, I'm tempted to risk it in the hope things are better by Feb.  However, I see other airlines are currently running flights there, checked the Buenos Aires airport arrivals and see Lufthansa, Air France, and Iberia all have flights landing there each morning, so I could book with one of these and have more confidence - however - they are significantly more expensive. 

I'm tempted to book with BA, but would like some travel insurance that covers if BA cancels the flight two weeks before, and I have to take a different airline that's more expensive on the same dates - will the insurer pay this difference?

CKhalvashi

I do not know of such a policy off the shelf. 

If other airlines are flying, you may be safer booking with one of those if you are worried about cost.

Westin

I also know of no such policy to cover what you are looking for.  Do however get travel insurance for all the other traditional reasons. 

I doubt BA are doing this for the reasons you suggest and would also hope that by February things will be back on track. 

If BA do cancel the service you may just find that they offer you an alternative flight via MAD with Iberia. Both airlines are owned by IAG.  Any rebooking should be without further cost to you.

[Deleted User]

Thanks all.  Guess I'll just have to take the risk.

Sandtree

Sportacus said:

Thanks all.  Guess I'll just have to take the risk.

Is your accommodation going to be prepaid or cancellable? 

If your accommodation is prepaid and cannot be cancelled then it would be a conversation with your insurers and hopefully one with empowered claims advisors as your claim is either for £1,500 for the accommodation you can no longer use or £500 for the extra cost of a flight above the refund received... you'd hope a sensible company would payout the lower amount so you can still make use of the accommodation and have your holiday.

If you can cancel your accommodation at no cost then you've not financially lost anything so insurance wont respond.

You could look at high net worth type policies to see what extra cover they provide but the additional premium may be more than the flight price differences.

emmajones1976

[Deleted User] said:

 checked the Buenos Aires airport arrivals and see Lufthansa, Air France, and Iberia all have flights landing there each morning

KLM also fly there, there was a departure on the boards when I was at Schiphol the other day.

onashoestring

According to FCO travel advice ( updated on 11 Nov ) “ Direct flights between Argentina and the UK are scheduled to resume in December”

 https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina/coronavirus

CKhalvashi

onashoestring said:

According to FCO travel advice ( updated on 11 Nov ) “ Direct flights between Argentina and the UK are scheduled to resume in December”

 https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/argentina/coronavirus

Naturally subject to commercial decisions. 

LATAM are advertising what I would consider as some quite good prices at the moment, so may be another to consider. As I have no need or desire to go to Argentina, I don't know if  these are good value or not.

If you are near London, it may be worth looking at flights from Paris or Amsterdam, as these may be cheaper paired with the Eurostar for APD reasons.

Sandtree

CKhalvashi said:
If you are near London, it may be worth looking at flights from Paris or Amsterdam, as these may be cheaper paired with the Eurostar for APD reasons.

No need to limit it to if you are near London, can fly to any of the countries with a lower set of taxes/fees as long as its on a separate ticket to the long haul... does mean there is no comeback if your first leg is delayed and you miss your connection but if the long haul is an evening flight its relatively safe buying a morning flight to the city first.

CKhalvashi

Sandtree said:

CKhalvashi said:
If you are near London, it may be worth looking at flights from Paris or Amsterdam, as these may be cheaper paired with the Eurostar for APD reasons.

No need to limit it to if you are near London, can fly to any of the countries with a lower set of taxes/fees as long as its on a separate ticket to the long haul... does mean there is no comeback if your first leg is delayed and you miss your connection but if the long haul is an evening flight its relatively safe buying a morning flight to the city first.

Of course!

The reason for choosing the Eurostar is due to it often being cheaper than flying, but a saving is a saving!

Sandtree

CKhalvashi said:

Sandtree said:

CKhalvashi said:
If you are near London, it may be worth looking at flights from Paris or Amsterdam, as these may be cheaper paired with the Eurostar for APD reasons.

No need to limit it to if you are near London, can fly to any of the countries with a lower set of taxes/fees as long as its on a separate ticket to the long haul... does mean there is no comeback if your first leg is delayed and you miss your connection but if the long haul is an evening flight its relatively safe buying a morning flight to the city first.

Of course!

The reason for choosing the Eurostar is due to it often being cheaper than flying, but a saving is a saving!

My experience of Eurostar is that its typically cheaper than the likes of BA, Air France and other flag carriers but often more expensive than your budget airlines... obviously for both you need to also factor in cost of getting to airport/train station at both ends that could notably move the needle.