Insurance say I can't claim for flight delay on package holiday.

al4x

Slightly complex situation but I was shocked to find "you're not covered" and can't understand how this is possible. 

I booked a holiday with much better adventures. The holiday included flights from Iceland to Greenland and all the activities in Greenland. But I needed to buy the flights to Iceland. 

What has happened is that I'm stuck in Iceland. The Iceland to Greenland flight has been canceled 2 days. 

The insurer says that I'm not covered and it's the package operators responsibility. 

I've never heard this before. But I've also never personally claimed on travel insurance. But I've known others who have for holidays. 

They stated that they only cover from UK. And this technically isn't 

I'm not sure exactly which T&C I fall foul of. And wonder if I was even covered for medical out there now! 


If it is indeed the UK operator I need to claim for. Fine. I just want the compensation for the 2 days (could be entirely cancelled). I don't really care who it comes from. 

Any help would be much appreciated! 

p00hsticks

What does the package operator say ? 
Is there not a representative with you ?

Hoenir

al4x said:

The insurer says that I'm not covered and it's the package operators responsibility. 

What are you expecting the insurer to cover you for? 

al4x

p00hsticks said:

What does the package operator say ? 
Is there not a representative with you ?

They are not. I have rang. 

They are looking into it. But they want to get out of it too due to weather.

It feels like the insurer is getting out of it by saying its part of a package. 
And the package operator is getting out of it by saying its weather.

I assumed as the insurance covered weather it would be fine. 

Its starting to feel like everyone is able to get Out of it. 

al4x

Hoenir said:

al4x said:

The insurer says that I'm not covered and it's the package operators responsibility. 

What are you expecting the insurer to cover you for? 

I'm expecting someone to cover for losing at least 2 days of holiday. I assumed these things were always handled by insurance. And I question the point of insurance. If they won't cover due to it being a package. Would they even cover for an accident out there? 

In which case there's no point in having insurance for this type of holiday if everyone can get out of it. 

Its not an unusual type of holiday I thought. Even reading the T&Cs I don't understand how you can select a location if insurance won't cover it due to a connection. 

Ayr_Rage

If you have a normal UK travel insurance policy it will only cover you for trips originating and terminating in the UK and not for side trips booked separately unless you specifically include them.

Specialist insurance is available but it looks like you didn't buy it.

Did the operator of the Iceland - Greenland trip offer you insurance when you booked the package? 

DullGreyGuy

al4x said:

Hoenir said:

al4x said:

The insurer says that I'm not covered and it's the package operators responsibility. 

What are you expecting the insurer to cover you for? 

I'm expecting someone to cover for losing at least 2 days of holiday. I assumed these things were always handled by insurance. And I question the point of insurance. If they won't cover due to it being a package. Would they even cover for an accident out there? 

In which case there's no point in having insurance for this type of holiday if everyone can get out of it. 

Its not an unusual type of holiday I thought. Even reading the T&Cs I don't understand how you can select a location if insurance won't cover it due to a connection. 

Insurance comes after statutory protections typically. There is certainly an argument that there is less value in insurance if you are going to say the EU (so reciprocal healthcare agreements) and on a package holiday but then this reflected in the price of the insurance if you buy an EU only policy. 

Were you to have a heart attack whilst out there then that isn't a liability of the package holiday company (in most cases) and so thats where insurance comes in. 

eskbanker

Insurers will always have a clause stating that they won't reimburse costs that should be recovered from other parties, so their stance about the package provider isn't unexpected and won't mean that you weren't covered for the insured risks.

However, that still leaves you needing to make the case for a claim from the package provider, and the fact that the weather circumstances weren't within their control doesn't get them off the hook IMHO - their obligations under the Package Travel Regulations mean that if key aspects of the trip are changed (such as the number of nights at your destination), they need to adjust the price accordingly, regardless of cause:

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/regulation/11

Westin

Ayr_Rage said:

If you have a normal UK travel insurance policy it will only cover you for trips originating and terminating in the UK and not for side trips booked separately unless you specifically include them.

Specialist insurance is available but it looks like you didn't buy it.

Did the operator of the Iceland - Greenland trip offer you insurance when you booked the package? 

This would be my thought as well.  It doesn't sound like you had a UK originating 'package' - more a DIY trip with a tour/excursion type event starting in Iceland.

NoodleDoodleMan

I'm wondering if this constitutes a package ?

The OP indicated that he had to source the flights separately.

eskbanker

NoodleDoodleMan said:

I'm wondering if this constitutes a package ?

The OP indicated that he had to source the flights separately.

Some flights separately, but the clear implication was a package (of flights, activities, and presumably accommodation) starting from Iceland:

al4x said:

I booked a holiday with much better adventures. The holiday included flights from Iceland to Greenland and all the activities in Greenland. But I needed to buy the flights to Iceland.