Help! Travel insurance won't cover my cancelled flight due to bad weather - Is this fair?

jolly_green_giant_

Hey everyone,

I'm feeling pretty stuck and could use some advice. My flight got cancelled because of bad weather just 7 hours before it was supposed to leave. I tried to claim for the accommodation I lost, but my travel insurance denied it.

They said I'm not covered because I didn't actually travel to the airport. They mentioned  an exception (on page 38 of the policy) .  The policy is from Allianz provided through my Lloyds bank account.

Has anyone else dealt with this? It feels so unfair. Is this "you must have already left home" clause common for UK travel insurance policies? Any tips on what I can do now to get my money back for the accommodation would be a lifesaver!

MyRealNameToo

So what happened? You got a later flight? You abandoned the holiday? 

"Delay" with most travel insurance is a fairly basic £X per 12 hours of delay if you subsequently fly and doesnt cover lost accommodation. It effectively there as an inconvenience payment for being stuck at the airport for a half a day or longer and hence those that offer it normally require you to have been delayed after getting to the airport. 

jolly_green_giant_

The next flight wasn't for 4 days, but our accommodation was only for 4 days so that's what I claimed for, the loss of accommodation.  If I had travelled to the airport they would have paid it, that's the clause that I am stuck with.

sheramber

Was there not an earlier flight with another airline you could have asked to  be rebooked to?

Yiu should always read your policy document carefully to know what you are covered for. 

MyRealNameToo

jolly_green_giant_ said:

The next flight wasn't for 4 days, but our accommodation was only for 4 days so that's what I claimed for, the loss of accommodation.  If I had travelled to the airport they would have paid it, that's the clause that I am stuck with.

Looking at their Silver account terms that is how they are written as abandonment is drafted as a resolution under delay. 

Its certainly not the only way people write policies, StaySure have abandonment as part of the Cancellation terms and NW has it has a one of the three claim types under Delay. Neither require you to have travelled to the airport. 

Ultimately log a complaint and escalate to the ombudsman if you arent happy. It won't cost you anything but may result in a payout as whilst it is what the policy states the FOS may deem it to be an "unfair" term but its far from guaranteed that they will. Ultimately focus on the fact that it was cancelled before it was time for you to go to the airport and therefore travel to the airport was pointless 

jolly_green_giant_

sheramber said:

Was there not an earlier flight with another airline you could have asked to  be rebooked to?

Yiu should always read your policy document carefully to know what you are covered for. 

No that was the next available flight.  I know everyone should read the terms and conditions in hindsight but this is on page 38!! there is only so much legal jargon a human can take.  I read the welcome pack the highlights but not this

J_B

Too late now but how do they know whether you travelled to the airport or not?