Holiday cancellation due to jet fuel shortage - covered by insurance?

GingerTim

And as night follows day, Iran has closed the Strait again and the IRGC has fired on a tanker. Can't imagine vessels are busting a gut to take that route any time soon...

Rich1964

In answer to my own question- Please see link below to article on todays Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2026/apr/18/what-to-do-if-flights-cancelled-holidays-disrupted-iran-war-eu-ees

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81968870#Comment_81968870

Yes, that reiterates what was already said upthread, i.e. that it's the package provider on the hook, with no need for insurer involvement.

BertieMisty

I was hoping to book flights for a family holiday to Spain. I’ve found a nice Airbnb I want to stay in. I’m conscious that if jet fuel issues lead to a cancellation we’d probably get our flight money back but are there insurances out there to protect us from being unable to go to our Airbnb? The Airbnb vendor adopts the standard approach which is 50% refund 6 weeks before and then nothing with less than a week to go so I’m worried we’d lose out on the accommodation cost. Any recommendations or thoughts welcome.

katejo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81970391#Comment_81970391

I already have 1 booked trip from before the jet fuel issue started but I am holding back from booking any other trips with flights for the moment. I doubt you would get the money spent on accommodation back because the fuel problem is already known.

Keepingupdated

I have a holiday booked to Spain in June, booking the flight and accomodation seperate. As we are always advised, book your insurance as soon as you book the holiday. This was done but after checking with the insurance company, asking if the insurance would cover flight cancellation due to fuel shortage, they said the insurance would not cover this at all. It seems as if insurance companies and really covering the own backside and not the consumer!!!

GingerTim

https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2026/apr/22/uk-inflation-increase-fuel-prices-oil-falls-trump-ceasefire-extended-business-live-news-updates?page=with%3Ablock-69e8aa4c8f0847c24ffc9682#block-69e8aa4c8f0847c24ffc9682

EU energy commissioner: Oil price crisis could last months or years even if there is peace

The EU’s energy commissioner has warned that the oil price crisis could last months or years even if there is peace.

And he has confirmed that the aviation sector faces the prospect of a shortage in jet fuel in the next five or six weeks.

The EU imports 30% to 40% of its jet fuel needs, with about half coming from the Middle East. Dan Jorgensen said at a briefing unveiling emergency measures to deal with the crisis caused by the Iran war

Jet fuel: this is the area now that is under most pressure and the IEA [International energy agency] has estimated that within five or six weeks we can have a real security of supply issue.

He warned that even if a peace deal is struck in the next few weeks between Iran and the US, the crisis will last months and perhaps years.

We are looking into some very difficult months, or maybe even years depending on the development in the Middle East,” he said.

Take Qatar. It may take two years to rebuild its gas and transportation structure.

It means that the world market for LNG prices will not stabilise of even fall as was expected in the next couple of years.

Even a best case scenario is a pretty bad scenario for the months to come.

Worried_fool

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81970391#Comment_81970391

Getting to Spain by train would be enjoyable, and reasonably quick. I suggest you explore options using The Man in Seat 61 web site.

eskbanker

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81973184#Comment_81973184

Insurance policies always operate on the basis of insuring against specific perils, rather than loosely covering anything that can go wrong with a trip, so it's always important to read the cover details carefully when choosing products.

However, as pointed out upthread and elsewhere, if the airline cancels flights, they're responsible for rebooking you onto others, at their cost…

thommo41

If you've got a package holiday with Tui for example, to Turkey for example, In August (for example!)… And they need to rebook you on another flight from another airport potentially - can you cancel your holiday for a refund? I spoke with my travel insurer earlier and suggest the fuel shortages and/or acts of war in general would be responsible for the disruption, and there would unfortunately be no cover at all. They also said the same if Turkey suddenly appeared on the do not travel list.
So basically, is Tui (or your holiday agency of choice!) responsible at any point for a full refund, or is it a case of we tried to offer you something else but you didn't want it?