Insurer rejected claim - "ADVERSE WEATHER" vs "AIRPORT CURFEW"

geejaywhite

Last December (11/12/2022) my Ryanair flight from Berlin to London Stansted was cancelled after I had arrived at the airport and checked in.  This was when there was heavy snowfall in the UK and Stansted Airport was closed as a result.

I was told that I could not claim from the airline, nor seek EU compensation as it was “extraordinary circumstances”. Therefore, I submitted a claim to my travel insurance company (Admiral) for expenses incurred.

To my surprise they have just rejected the claim with the following message: “This is because we only cover delays caused by "strike, industrial action, adverse weather conditions or a mechanical breakdown "as detailed within Section 5 of the policy booklet. As an airport curfew doesn't fall under one of the above reasons, we would be unable to provide cover.”

I would have thought an airport being closed by heavy snowfall was a watertight example of “adverse weather conditions”!! I therefore intend to dispute their rejection of the claim. I can only assume that they are trying to argue that as it was a late flight (scheduled arrival 22:55) the delay caused the flight to be cancelled as it would have arrived in the overnight curfew window?

Has anyone experienced anything similar? There were a lot of cancelled flights on the day to a number of UK airports so I can’t be the only person claiming for this. Any experience or advice would be most welcome.

Thanks

Graham White

eskbanker

geejaywhite said:

Last December (11/12/2022) my Ryanair flight from Berlin to London Stansted was cancelled after I had arrived at the airport and checked in.  This was when there was heavy snowfall in the UK and Stansted Airport was closed as a result.

I was told that I could not claim from the airline, nor seek EU compensation as it was “extraordinary circumstances”. Therefore, I submitted a claim to my travel insurance company (Admiral) for expenses incurred.

Extraordinary circumstances prevent a claim for compensation but the airline is still liable for expenses, so you should submit your claim for the hotel accommodation, transport to/from it, and meals, to Ryanair.