Whether your flight is delayed or cancelled, it can be a massive hindrance to yourself and many other passengers, this is especially true if you have a urgent/time sensitive journey

In this blog, we will discuss the question ‘Does travel insurance cover flight cancellations and delays?’

The team at Bruford and Vallance Insurance Service Ltd are here to help you find the right insurance for you. With the wide range of insurance policies we offer, we’re confident we can offer peace of mind and a fair price.

There are many myths surrounding breakdown cover insurance. Let’s explore the top ten myths about breakdown cover insurance and find out which ones are true.

Is travel insurance legally required to travel?

It is not a legal environment to have travel insurance when leaving your home country. However, other countries may require some form of travel insurance depending on the visa type, and country itself. 

Despite not being a legal requirement, experts and governments alike strongly recommend that people travel with insurance in case of any unforeseen circumstances such as medical emergencies, delays/cancellations, and more. 

When buying travel insurance, you’ll generally need:

• • Personal details: Names, dates of birth for all travellers.
  • Trip details: Destination(s), departure/return dates.
  • Medical history: Declaration of any pre-existing conditions.
  • Contact information: Address, phone, email.

• Payment details.

For claims, you’ll need supporting documents like medical reports, police reports for theft, booking confirmations, and receipts.

What do you have to pay for if you don’t have travel insurance?

If you travel without travel insurance, you would have to pay for the following out of your own pocket:

      1. Emergency medical treatment: 

This is by far the biggest risk and potentially the most expensive. Healthcare costs in many countries, especially the USA, can be astronomical. This can range from thousands to tens of thousands of pounds and even more. 

• Even within Europe, while a Global Health Insurance Card or valid EHIC covers state-provided healthcare at a reduced cost, or for free in some cases. It’s not a substitute for travel insurance and will not cover all medical costs or repatriation.

       2. Emergency repatriation: 

• If you become seriously ill or injured and need to be flown back to the UK, the costs are incredibly high.

       3. Trip cancellation or curtailment:

• If you have to cancel your trip before you go (due to illness, a bereavement, redundancy, etc.), you will lose all non-refundable deposits and payments for flights, accommodation, tours, etc.
• If you have to cut your trip short and return home early, you’ll lose money for the unused portion of your holiday and have to pay for new return flights.

       4. Lost, stolen, or damaged luggage and belongings:

• Airlines have limited liability for lost or damaged bags. You’d have to pay to replace all your clothes, toiletries, electronics, and other valuables.
• This also applies to personal items lost or stolen outside of airline responsibility (e.g., a stolen phone or wallet while sightseeing).

       5. Travel delays and missed connections:

• If your flight is significantly delayed or cancelled, and the airline isn’t obligated to cover all costs, you’d pay for unexpected overnight accommodation, meals, and alternative transport.
• If a delay causes you to miss a connecting flight booked on a separate ticket, you’d have to buy a new ticket to your final destination.

       6. Personal liability: 

• If you accidentally cause injury to someone else or damage their property while abroad, you could be sued and face significant legal costs and compensation payments.

Are flight cancellations and delays covered by travel insurance?

In some cases, yes, travel insurance can cover delays and flight cancellations. However, the range of cover can vary significantly based on your policy and why the flight was cancelled/delayed in the first place.

Here is what you need to know:

Flight cancellations:

If your flight is cancelled by the airline, your first recourse is generally with the airline itself. Under laws like EU261 (which still largely applies in the UK post-Brexit), airlines are typically obligated to offer you a full refund or an alternative flight to your destination, as well as compensation for significant delays or cancellations within their control.

When travel insurance might step in: 

Travel insurance typically covers flight cancellations when:

• The reason for cancellation is your fault or an unforeseen personal circumstance. This is often referred to as “cancellation cover.” Examples include:

• You or a close family member becoming seriously ill or injured and unable to travel.
• Bereavement of a close relative.
• Being called for jury duty.
• A burglary, fire, or flood at your home.
• You being made redundant.
• Being diagnosed with COVID-19 or another contagious disease that prevents travel.

• The airline fails to provide an alternative within a set timeframe. Some policies might cover costs if the airline doesn’t offer a suitable alternative flight within, for example, 24 hours.
• Strikes or industrial action that were unforeseen when you booked your policy. If a strike was known about when you bought your insurance, you likely won’t be covered.

What’s NOT usually covered?: 

Simply changing your mind, or if the reason for cancellation was known before you bought the policy.

Flight delays:

Airline’s responsibility first: 

Similar to cancellations, airlines have obligations for significant delays under EU261, including providing care (food, drinks, accommodation if overnight) and potentially compensation depending on the delay length and distance of the flight, if the delay is within their control.

When travel insurance might step in: 

Travel insurance typically covers delays when:

• Significant delay threshold: Most policies have a minimum delay time (Be sure to check this) before coverage kicks in.
• Covered reasons: Delays due to reasons outside the airline’s direct control, such as:

• Severe weather conditions (like heavy snow, storms).
• Strikes or industrial action (if unforeseen when you bought the policy).
• Breakdowns on public transport preventing you from reaching the airport on time.
• Road accidents or significant traffic jams on your way to the airport.
• Your car breaking down on the way to the airport.

• Expenses Covered: If triggered, it can cover (depending on the policy):
  • Additional accommodation costs.
  • Meals and refreshments.
  • Alternative transport if you abandon your trip due to the long delay.

• Missed connections: If your initial flight is delayed due to a covered reason and causes you to miss a connecting flight, your travel insurance might cover the cost of new tickets or additional accommodation. If it’s the airline’s fault, and you booked a “through ticket” the airline should re-route you.

What’s NOT usually covered: 

Delays due to your own fault (e.g., oversleeping, not leaving enough time), or minor delays that don’t meet the policy’s minimum threshold.

Where to find comprehensive travel insurance?

Bruford & Vallance offers comprehensive travel insurance policies that can cover personal travel, with options to extend to winter sports, business, and golf equipment. We provide single trip, annual multi-trip (for those 85 and under), and long-stay options up to 18 months, with no upper age limit for single trips.

Key coverage includes:

• Up to £10,000,000 for emergency medical expenses
• Up to £5,000 for trip cancellation
• Up to £2,000 for luggage
• Up to £5,000 for hijack and ransom

We also offer a 24-hour medical emergency claims line and can cover over 250 pre-existing medical conditions without medical screening. Quotes and policy documents are available the same day through SunWorld Travel. 

Need travel insurance that covers the unexpected? Speak to Bruford and Vallance

Insurance Services Ltd for expert advice and tailored protection for your next trip.

Explore travel insurance policies with Bruford & Vallance

We hope that this blog has addressed the question ‘Does travel insurance cover flight cancellations and delays?’ Whilst providing supplementary information that has helped you gain a full understanding.

The team at Bruford and Vallance Insurance Service Ltd invites you to contact us if you have any queries, our superior service standards mean that we are happy to help you find all the answers you require. 

Alternatively, you can request a quote from us today, and we will respond as soon as possible.  

Address:

• Bruford & Vallance Insurance Services Ltd

• 45 St. James Street
  Taunton

• Somerset

• TA1 1JR

Contact number

• 01823 277188

Email

• info@bruford.co.uk