Package holiday cancellation - claiming back cancellation fees

monkeez

Hi all.

My wife and I were due to go to Greece at the end of June for our holiday but she has spent the last week in hospital with sepsis (she's on the mend now)

We booked the holiday last year through Jet2Holidays.

Their cancellation fees are 30% of holiday cost if cancelled within 69-57 days of holiday departure date.

We both have seperate travel insurance.

She will be recovering for a while and has said understandibly said that she doesnt want to go now. I will speak to her GP to see about getting a letter from him saying she should not travel.

If i cancel the holiday would i be able to claim back the 30% fees from my travel insurance?

Thanks

MeteredOut

Do both of your policies cover both of you, or does each only cover the individual?

What does your policy say regarding this scenario? If the policies are individual and not joint, that could lead to complications.

Any reason you don't want to claim on your wife's policy?

Insurance companies like to know if there is any other party who might also be responsible to pay out any claim, so they may be interested that there is another policy that cover cover you both (no matter which policy any claim is made on).

Are both policies with the same broker/underwriter, or different ones?

monkeez

Our policies only cover the individual and state that any pre-existing condition isnt covered - which this isnt.

Each policy is with a different broker but look to be underwritten via AXA.

It's no problem claiming on her insurance.

With each policy only covering the individual does that mean that we could each claim 15% back each of the 30%?

We were waiting for our policies to expire and then get a joint one…then this happens!

Isthisforreal99

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81966546#Comment_81966546

The problem may be that you are still expected to go by yourself - depends on what your insurance says about spouse illness.

TELLIT01

You need to speak to your insurer as policies vary greatly. The bottom line though is that letter from the GP stating 'not fit to travel'. Without it there will be no basis for a claim as your wife will be classed as 'disinclined to travel' i.e. her decision and not an insurable risk. If the claims are both accepted there will probably be an excess to deduct from each of the claims.

NoodleDoodleMan

Apart from other issues, if the GP considers your wife is fit to travel then her reluctance to go becomes a "disinclination to travel" scenario which won't be covered by insurance.

You should approach the GP soonest to get an opinion.

Sepsis is a serious condition, I suspect he/she will be onside.

MeteredOut

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81966558#Comment_81966558

This. OP, with separate policies, it could be that yours only covers illness for for people on the policy, not people related to/dependant upon you. Need to check the specific T&Cs on each policy.

monkeez

This is from my policy:

Cancellation
We will pay you up to £2,000 for your proportion only of any irrecoverable unused travel and
accommodation costs (including excursions up to £250) and other pre-paid charges which you have
paid or are contracted to pay, together with your proportion only of any reasonable additional travel
expenses incurred if cancellation of the trip or one-way trip is necessary and unavoidable as a result of
any of the following events:

1. The death, bodily injury, illness, disease, or complications of pregnancy of:
   a. You.
   b. Any person who you are travelling or have arranged to travel with.
   c. Any person who you have arranged to stay with.
   d. Your close relative.
   e. Your close business associate.

The wording on her policy is the same

MeteredOut

So it looks like either of you could claim for it all on one policy, or do 50% on each. A single claim is probably simpler for you.

I'd look to get the not-fit-to-travel note, and then phone the insurers and ask for advice. The underwriter both being with AXA will hopefully help.

monkeez

Yeah. She's still in hospital atm so i've asked her to speak with the Dr there.

NoodleDoodleMan

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/sepsis/treatment-and-recovery/

Sepsis can involve a long recovery period - I doubt any consultant would be willing to declare Fit To Travel anytime soon after such diagnosis.