Cancelling flights/bookings after FCDO advice change

jwelly

Hello,

This month, I am planning to book a trip departing and returning in September 2025. We have the Barclays travel (insurance) pack.

Given the current political situation of this country I wouldn't be surprised if, at some point between my booking date and departing date, the FCDO decided to place it on the list of "Advise against all travel" or "Advise against all but essential travel". In which case, I would cancel the flights and any other bookings I made, such as accommodation, since my travel insurance would become invalid.

Has anyone had any experience of this type of scenario (NOT Covid-related) and successfully been reimbursed by your travel insurance provider? That is, booking flights, then FCDO advises against travel, leading you to cancel the booking.

From what I can see in the Barclays travel pack policy, they will only refund us if the FCDO update happens up to 31 days before departure, which seems grossly unfair to me. If we choose to book several months in advance of departure and the FCDO advice changes more than 31 days before departure then how is that our fault..? I've raised this question with Barclays/Aviva themselves, awaiting an answer.

silvercar

The logic would be that the FCDO advice could change again before your holiday and so what wouldn’t be travelled by your insurance then becomes covered again, so logically you would still want to travel.

Friends were in a similar situation. Booked flights then FCDO advise changed for the worse. Soon after their airline cancelled flights, so they let the flights go. Then the advise changed again, so they would have travel insurance, but of course their flights were long gone and replacement flights were far more expensive as fewer airlines were flying to the destination.

Incidentally, you can sometimes get medical insurance cover in your destination cover, even if you can’t get travel insurance.

Caz3121

jwelly said:

From what I can see in the Barclays travel pack policy, they will only refund us if the FCDO update happens up to 31 days before departure, which seems grossly unfair to me. If we choose to book several months in advance of departure and the FCDO advice changes more than 31 days before departure then how is that our fault..? I've raised this question with Barclays/Aviva themselves, awaiting an answer.

what is the exact wording? you are implying that you would not be covered if the FCDO update happens 32 days before travel however what is more common is that you cannot claim for FCDO cancellation until 31 days before the holiday....so if you book now to travel in September and FCDO update happens in May, you would not be able to submit cancellation claim until August (31 days before travel) as the update may change again after May.

At this point I would be looking to book accommodation that is refundable and you may find that airlines will give flexibility for changes/refunds or cancel flights so you may not need to involve insurance at all.

jwelly

Thanks, that logic makes sense. But in this scenario let's assume that the advice against travel is still in place right up until the departure day.

A lot of FCDO advice has been in place for years, some of which is a bit outdated now in my view, based on numerous travel stories from friends and reports I've read.

Ultimately I just need clarity from Barclays/Aviva regarding their 31 day rule which I will wait for. Because if the "do not travel" advice was announced say, 40 days before departure and this advice is still in place right up to the departure day, then I absolutely should be entitled to a cancellation claim, in my view.

Caz3121

I agree...what should be relevant is that it is not in place when you book but is in place within 31 days of travel 

Westin

And the mystery destination is…..?

DullGreyGuy

The initial section of the FDCO in the policy book states it will give protection if they advise against travelling or only essential travel. The detailed terms introduces the 31 days requirement. 

Haven't spoken to Aviva but suspect this isn't saying the declaration must be made within 31 days of your holiday but that it must still be in place (or made) within 31 days. IE if you were 9 months away from your travel dates and the FDCO made a change now you couldn't immediately cancel the holiday and expect the insurers to cover it because the recommendation may change again between now and -31 days from your departure however at day -31 you can cancel if the advice hasn't changed even were it to change again 10 days later... they accept people need more certainty than waiting to the last minute. 

TELLIT01

Westin said:

And the mystery destination is…..?

Is the destination relevant?  The issue would be the same whatever country is the destination.