Millions of travelers have now been affected by the huge cloud of volcanic dust sweeping across Europe. According to the BBC’s latest report, around 20 countries have now closed their airspace and some have extended flight bans into Monday.
In the UK, the latest update from NATS as of Sunday morning, April 18th is that flight restrictions have been extended until at least 19:00 UK time; the situation looks set to worsen as the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano in Iceland continues to erupt, meaning tens of thousands of passengers will lose their holidays.
Travel Insurance for Cancelled Holidays from the Iceland Volcano
So will passengers be covered for those cancelled holidays by their travel insurance?
As far as actual flights are concerned, airlines are obliged to offer passengers either a full refund or transfer to another suitable flight if and when this becomes available. For other holiday costs such as hotels and car hire, passengers will need to contact their insurance company to check the small print as, according to Nick Starling, the ABI’s Director of General Insurance and Health, “there is no standard set of conditions which applies to a situation of this kind.”
With the growing trend to book flights and accommodation separately to secure the best deal, some holidaymakers may find their policy does not cover all aspects of the trip.
Fear of Flying Through the Volcanic Dust Cloud will Not be Covered by Insurance
It is worth noting that while airlines will refund flight costs, they will not do so if a passenger chooses not to fly due to fear of flying through the dust cloud, a very real possibility for many given the high profile coverage of possible crashes if the dust gets into aircraft engines.
Airlines like KLM have been carrying out test flights and have announced today that a Boeing 737 had reached maximum altitude in the skies above the Netherlands. Once the relevant engine inspections have been carried out to look for any damage, KLM is hoping to get the all clear from the relevant aviation authorities for flights to resume; fearful passengers may then have to make a difficult decision.
Refunds on Single Trip Insurance Policies
Travelers with a single trip insurance policy should check with their insurer as to whether they are covered for any holiday losses. In addition, they should also look to get the actual cost of the policy refunded as premiums are refundable if the policy is never actually used.
If passengers choose to re-arrange their holiday for a later date, most insurers will simply amend the dates on the policy to reflect the new travel arrangements so there is no need to apply for a premium refund.
Contact Insurers to Check Rights over Cancelled Holidays due to the Iceland Volcano
The misery for thousands of would-be holidaymakers looks set to continue in the short-term so travelers should contact their travel insurance provider now to check whether they will be covered for lost holidays due to the Iceland volcano.
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Also if interest may be Buy Travel Insurance Cover for Volcanic Ash and Cheap Over 65 Travel Insurance, Single or Multi Trip
For the latest update on flight restrictions in/out of the UK, see the NATS website.
See also the BBC’s article on Air Passenger Rights due to the Iceland Volcano.
Resources:
Association of British Insurers (ABI) website.
National Air Traffic Services (NATS) website.
Helen Smeaton - Helen Smeaton runs a cycling and hiking business and is also a freelance writer and web designer. Read her profile for more information
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