Between the 11th March - 13th March 2020 only, we were able to offer Travel Disruption Cover as an add-on, to new and existing policies.
What policies was this available on?
- Direct, Referral & Retail
- Cruise Non Medical
- Cruise Medical
- Aggregators
What policies was this NOT available on?
- Not available on any Essential Travel policies!
- Not available on any UK Bronze & Coach!
Suggested wording for you during 11th March - 13th March 2020
"We can also add trip disruption cover to your policy which would cover you for events such as natural disasters, pandemics and instructions from Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) advising you not to travel. This isn't something that is covered as standard would you like me to add it to the policy?"
Suggested wording for you after 13th March 2020
"It is with regret that our policy underwriter, Travel Insurance Facilities, has decided to withdraw this extra cover that we were offering. This is predominantly due to government guidance and the FCDO stance on travel as a whole. We are still able to offer travel insurance that will cover medical risks abroad."
Suggested wording for claims queries after 13th March 2020
As COVID19 is a known event, if a customer amends the dates on their single policy, they would NOT be covered for anything relating to COVID19 for their new trip. TIF Claims have also been declined many TDC/COVID19 claims, due to the customers purchasing the add-on, knowing about the event at the time of purchase, which would invalidate any claims. Due to this, the following wording below may help you for any future TDC claims queries:
Our understanding of the ‘Travel Disruption Cover’ was that as long as at the time of purchase this extra cover, that the FCDO hadn’t advised against travel to your chosen holiday destination, our customers would be entitled to claim, if this changed within the 21 days prior to your trip.
Whilst we do understand that this insurance policy was purchased via Holiday Extras, the policy is Underwritten by Travel Insurance Facilities (TIF) who handle the claims, as with all insurance policies, there are terms attached and I’m afraid I would be unable to comment on the claims process.
If you are still not satisfied with the outcome of your claim with TIF, please refer to your Policy Wording booklet, which does supply the complaint contact details for us, TIF and the Ombudsman.
What did the add-on cover for?
If you are unable to go on your trip...
We will pay customers up to a maximum of £5,000 (per person) for their share of costs that are directly related to their trip (including excursions and unused kennel/cattery/professional pet sitter fees), which they cannot get back from anyone else, or which cannot be transferred or used for another purpose if, after the date they bought this extension, they unexpectedly and/or unavoidably have to cancel their trip for one of the following reasons (In the 21 days before your scheduled departure date):
- The Foreign & Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) advise against all travel or all but essential travel to the area in which you were due to stay during your trip
- The area in which you were due to stay during your trip is affected by pandemic or epidemic influenza and has been declared by the Local Government or Local Authorities
- A natural disaster renders the accommodation in which you were due to stay during your trip uninhabitable
- Severe snowfall prevents you from leaving home on your scheduled departure date
Additional Curtailment cover - of you have to cut your trip short
We will pay you up to a maximum of £5,000 (per person) (the deductible/excess applicable to this section is the same as that applied to your main policy) if you unexpectedly and/or unavoidably have to cut your trip short and return home early for:
- Additional travel costs (of the same standard as originally booked) if you cannot use your original return ticket; and
- Unused accommodation costs that each insured person has paid and cannot get back from anyone else (including excursions and unused kennel/cattery/professional pet sitter fees)
If any of the following happen after you have left home:
- The FCDO advise UK Residents to leave the area in which you are staying during your trip and return home
- The area in which you are staying during your trip is affected by pandemic or epidemic influenza and has been declared by the Local Government or Local Authorities
- Your pre-booked holiday accommodation is directly affected by a food poisoning outbreak
- A natural disaster renders the accommodation in which you are staying during your trip uninhabitable
- Severe snowfall prevents you from reaching your international departure point for your outward journey from the UK or pre-booked accommodation within the UK, causing you to abandon your trip.
Travel Expenses
TIF would generally define travel expenses as those incurred on the customer's trip, such as, transport costs, accommodation, care hire etc. So any costs to extend airport parking would technically fall within transport costs.
Q & A
- Travel Disruption Q&A - CC
- Please see the Travel Disruption Cover Policy Wording here
Foreign Travel Advice