FCDO Advice UAE, Qatar, Bahrain

silvercar

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81904995#Comment_81904995

If you are on a UK or EU airline, there is an obligation to provide accommodation and food until they can get you home. There are worse places in the world to be able to spend a few extra days than the Maldives.

strawb_shortcake

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81905022#Comment_81905022

True, though I'm told Male isn't as idyllic as other parts of the Maldives.

My cousin was stuck in the Maldives when the Icelandic Volcano erupted, no problem for beds as no one else was flying in

Mands

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81904929#Comment_81904929

Yes, but also no.

This is a volatile situation that is changing by the hour.

Yeah, Muscat is open, at the time of writing. But to commit to it still being open 6 hours after you get into that taxi is one hell of a gamble. It's not one I'd take because if the pieces move against you you now have significantly fewer options.

But then I'm sitting in Cyprus where we may, or may not, have had a couple of inbound missiles this afternoon depending who believe. Where people are debating the technical definitions of "directed at" vs "heading towards".

Grumpy_chap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81904789#Comment_81904789

I wonder whether "essential travel" is what the individual considers "essential" or what the individual's travel insurer considers "essential".

Notwithstanding that many policies exclude "acts of war", given the choice a travel insurer might prefer to suffer the full (but certain) cost a wholly aborted visit rather than the less certain and potentially greater costs of needing to fund whatever might arise from an individual travelling and then an incident resulting in open-ended costs arising.

Given the FCDO have the differentiation "advise against all travel" and "advise against all but essential travel", it might be expected that travel insurance policies have a definition of "essential travel".

The FCDO, helpfully, seem to avoid having a definition for "essential":

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/about-foreign-commonwealth-development-office-travel-advice

Advice against all travel

Our maps are coloured red to show the areas where we advise against all travel.    

Advice against all but essential travel

We sometimes advise against all but essential travel. You must decide whether your travel is essential. For example, you may have urgent family or business commitments. Only you can make an informed decision based on your individual circumstances and the risks. 

Our maps are coloured amber to show the areas where we advise against all but essential travel.    

silvercar

I would have thought, insurance not withstanding, that if something is absolutely essential you would make the trip even if the FCDO advises against all travel. I mean, if it is essential then you need to be there.

Aretnap

I wonder whether "essential travel" is what the individual considers "essential" or what the individual's travel insurer considers "essential".

Notwithstanding that many policies exclude "acts of war", given the choice a travel insurer might prefer to suffer the full (but certain) cost a wholly aborted visit rather than the less certain and potentially greater costs of needing to fund whatever might arise from an individual travelling and then an incident resulting in open-ended costs arising.

Given the FCDO have the differentiation "advise against all travel" and "advise against all but essential travel", it might be expected that travel insurance policies have a definition of "essential travel".

There is no need for then to have such a definition. Whether the journey is "essential" is generally irrelevant as far as travel insurance is concerned. The policy either covers you to travel to that destination or it doesn't. (Usually it doesn't)

Aretnap

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81905163#Comment_81905163

Ultimately it's just advice and if you are determined to go, and you can find a carrier willing to take you etc, then nobody is going to stop you. The FCDO wording just reflects the fact that they are advising you not to travel there for any reason.

jimjames

As I have a flight via Dubai booked for later this year I thought I'd check travel insurance and (probably unsurprisingly) it doesn't cover war so I'm assuming you're reliant on the airline to sort you out in this situation if you're already abroad.