Missed air transfer - insurance?

DullGreyGuy

Grumpy_chap said:

How much is the OP saving by splitting the flights in this way versus the extra time they need to allow in the journey and the increased responsibility on the airline for the connection if booked as a connecting flight?

There is not necessarily any extra journey time, there may even be less.

Just because an airline sells a connecting flight doesnt automatically mean its a speedy jump off one plane and onto the next. Was looking at a flight to south america recently where direct flights arent an option. The cheapest Air France ticket had an 18 hour layover in CDG so not only was it much cheaper to get an easyJet flight to CDG but the layover could be cut to something much more sensible. The flip side is, as already discussed here, that I take on the liability if there is a connection issue or only one leg is cancelled etc however that can predominately be moved to an insurer if required.

TELLIT01

FlaatusGoat said:

The cheapest airfare I've found for the holiday I've booked (it's a package but doesn't include flights) requires an airport transfer. As well as booking general insurance for the usual things, do these standard policies generally not cover missed transfers or any flight cancellations (this loss of the onward holiday?) Any pointers where I need to book?

You say it's a package but doesn't include flights.  As I understand the definition of a 'package holiday' it must include a minimum of 2 elements, for example hotel and car rental.  What is included in the package?

lisyloo

eDicky said:

lisyloo said:

FlaatusGoat said:

daveyjp said:

Is it a true 'transfer'. i.e. you check in once and transfer in the intermediate airport without checking in again, or is it advertised as a 'self transfer'which is actually two different flights and you need to check in for each one?

It is important you know which one as self transfers are often cheap, but can leave you stranded if one leg is late or cancelled.

Correct, self transfer. I fly from the UK to a European airport, and then get on an entirely new flight to continue onward to my final destination. I'm just worried if one flight gets cancelled or delayed I lose my entire trip as if I arrive late the whole holiday is lost as I can't start mid way once it began.

I'm not sure either Ryanair or Easyjet offer any guarantees of replacement flights, they might just refund me if there was an issue but I bet it would be a fight and it would not compensate for the loss of the holiday.

 

Why wouldn't you just get on the next flight?

Because it sounds like OP is looking at the cheapest way to arrive at the holiday destination offered by online agents, involving two separate flights on low-cost carriers, with 'self connection' between them at the airport of transit. Therefore there's no obligation by the second carrier to put them on the next available onward flight if the connection is missed, and purchase of a new ticket would be necessary to continue the journey.

In any instance where I have an important need to arrive somewhere on time, I would never consider booking in such a way. It would be a through ticket purchased direct from the airline. No insurance would give me back the opportunity to arrive on time for my appointment..!

ok, but the question was, if you have a £100 flight and a 2 week holiday costing £1000, then why would you just abandon the holiday completely? Wouldn't you look for an alternative way to get to your destination?

So if your train to the airport was late, wouldn't you look at jumping in a cab rather than abandoning a holiday?

Even if you have insurance and are covered they would always expect you to minimise the losses.
No insurance will just stump up for an entire holiday where there are cheaper ways to mitigate the loss - such as another flight or a taxi.

If the OP wants an insurer to stump up for the whole holiday at the first inconvenience then I don't believe that insurance exits.

DullGreyGuy

lisyloo said:

eDicky said:

lisyloo said:

FlaatusGoat said:

daveyjp said:

Is it a true 'transfer'. i.e. you check in once and transfer in the intermediate airport without checking in again, or is it advertised as a 'self transfer'which is actually two different flights and you need to check in for each one?

It is important you know which one as self transfers are often cheap, but can leave you stranded if one leg is late or cancelled.

Correct, self transfer. I fly from the UK to a European airport, and then get on an entirely new flight to continue onward to my final destination. I'm just worried if one flight gets cancelled or delayed I lose my entire trip as if I arrive late the whole holiday is lost as I can't start mid way once it began.

I'm not sure either Ryanair or Easyjet offer any guarantees of replacement flights, they might just refund me if there was an issue but I bet it would be a fight and it would not compensate for the loss of the holiday.

 

Why wouldn't you just get on the next flight?

Because it sounds like OP is looking at the cheapest way to arrive at the holiday destination offered by online agents, involving two separate flights on low-cost carriers, with 'self connection' between them at the airport of transit. Therefore there's no obligation by the second carrier to put them on the next available onward flight if the connection is missed, and purchase of a new ticket would be necessary to continue the journey.

In any instance where I have an important need to arrive somewhere on time, I would never consider booking in such a way. It would be a through ticket purchased direct from the airline. No insurance would give me back the opportunity to arrive on time for my appointment..!

ok, but the question was, if you have a £100 flight and a 2 week holiday costing £1000, then why would you just abandon the holiday completely? Wouldn't you look for an alternative way to get to your destination?

So if your train to the airport was late, wouldn't you look at jumping in a cab rather than abandoning a holiday?

Even if you have insurance and are covered they would always expect you to minimise the losses.
No insurance will just stump up for an entire holiday where there are cheaper ways to mitigate the loss - such as another flight or a taxi.

If the OP wants an insurer to stump up for the whole holiday at the first inconvenience then I don't believe that insurance exits.

Not sure where the idea of the insurer stumping up for the whole holiday comes from? Assuming there were no additional flights that day then they'd be stumping up for a night in the airport hotel and the flight the next day which is likely to be at a material higher rate as most same day flights are as it generally means you've been caught with your pants down and have to accept whatever the cost is.

lisyloo

The question was in the original post 1
” or any flight cancellations (this loss of the onward holiday?”.

yes, you might have to get a hotel, train/taxi (to a different airport) etc.

For a short break it could be impractical, but for a holiday, most of the time it would be cheaper to get a new flight than cancel the holiday.
of course there are exceptions, but in general you’d claim for alternative arrangements, not cancel the whole thing.
insurers expect you to go for the cheapest reasonable option.

I had a flight cancelled and could not go later (the trip was for a wedding) so I went to a different airport and claimed the extra on insurance (minus 2x excess). My insurer paid for my extra costs for alternate arrangements without question but they were reasonable and justifiable.

if you had to get a hotel (don’t forget there are multiple airports in London) then you’d claim for a hotel although off airport may be cheaper. 

If you are ever in that situation I’d suggest you check other airports and other options (off airport hotels or even going home for the night).
I always take a copy of my insurance with me plus their phone number so I can get authorisation if required.
if you just check into the airport hotel when you could (for example) get a train to cheaper airport then you might find your insurer isn’t impressed and won’t pay for your claim.

sheramber

The OP states that he cannot join the holiday once it has begun. That sounds like a trek or  safari or similar which moves away from the starting point. In such a case I would be arranging flights to arrive a day early, in case of any delay.

lisyloo

Yes, I’ve done plenty of cruises, big ships and dive boats.
one concern with diving is missing baggage (your own dive kit).

long haul you add in at least an extra day.
just been to the Maldives and there were 3 flights a day, so 4 flights we could have taken To arrive on time.
we had a short connection (45 mins) and missed it but got on the next flight.

I guess insurance would still cover (if covered) but it simply isn’t worth it.

I am currently fighting for delay compensation so it’s not always clear where the liability is (at least not to people you are claiming from).