Sharm el Sheikh – Latest Update on travel insurance cover

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is now advising against all but essential travel by air to or from Sharm el Sheikh.  This means that UK airlines are currently not allowed to take passengers directly to or from the resort.
Please note that the FCO still advise that the resort itself is considered to be safe.

The following information applies to all policies bought for trips with flights to Sharm el Sheikh which were purchased before 5pm, 4th November 2015 (when the FCO advice changed).

Am I covered if I wish to cancel my forthcoming holiday to Sharm el-Sheikh?

The UK government have advised all but essential travel through Sharm el-Sheikh airport for security reasons and in this instance your travel insurance policy will not normally offer any compensation as it only provides cancellation cover for specific reasons. In the first instance you should contact your airline and travel provider to cancel and obtain a refund or discuss alternative arrangements.

Where a travel provider will not provide a refund we will consider cancellation claims on a case by case basis.

Am I covered if I am abroad and wish to return home immediately?

The travel insurance policy will only provide curtailment cover for specific reasons and a change in the advice by the UK government is not one of these.

After such a serious incident, the first contact should be made with the airline or travel provider for them to decide whether they can or will arrange for your return to the UK. As the UK government have advised against all but essential travel through Sharm el-Sheikh airport it is likely that an early return is not possible whilst flights are suspended. If you do return home before your planned return date, any costs incurred will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

If you decide to travel to an alternative airport to return home, these costs are not covered by your insurance policy.

Am I covered if my flight has been cancelled when I am due to return home?

This is a situation where you have contracted with an airline or travel provider for a service that they have been unable to fulfil. As such, it is their legal obligation to assist and support you in getting home.

As the UK government have advised against all but essential travel through Sharm el-Sheikh airport, it is likely that the travel provider will make arrangements for your return as soon as possible and they will meet any additional accommodation costs.

Am I covered if my flight has been delayed when I am due to return home?

The travel insurance policy will only provide travel delay cover for specific reasons, and delays due to increased security risk is not one of these. Again, this is a situation where you have contracted with an airline or travel provider for a service that they have been unable to fulfil. As such, it is their legal obligation to assist and support you in getting home.

As the UK government have advised against all but essential travel through Sharm el-Sheikh airport, it is likely that the travel provider will make arrangements for your return as soon as possible and they will meet any additional accommodation costs whilst you are delayed.

I have rescheduled my travel arrangements; can I transfer my insurance to my new travel arrangements?

Due to the recent events at Sharm el-Sheikh airport, some travel providers have offered customers the option to change their travel destination and/or dates of travel. Provided that there is no impact in the travel insurance policy premium, an administration cost will not be charged for any amendments. If there is a change that alters the premium due to a change in destination or duration, we will adjust the cost of the policy and either refund any monies due or make a charge for the additional premium. However, there will be no administration charge.

I am stranded abroad and unable to return immediaely due to the change in UK government advice, is my cover still in force?

Where customers are stranded abroad, due to helping the authorities, lost documentation, no available flights or other consequent circumstances as a result of the change in advice by the UK government, your travel insurance policy will be extended until you can return home, provided you do so at the earliest possible opportunity.

If you do not return at the first available opportunity provided to you by your travel provider, then ALL cover will cease at the time you were advised to return by the travel provider.

The cost of additional accommodation whilst abroad as a result of this incident is not covered although, where directly affected by the events, we will review each case on its merits.

My Tour Operator has cancelled my holiday so can I cancel my insurance and have a refund?

If the policy is a Single Trip policy then a full refund will be offered but we cannot offer policy refunds for Annual Multi-Trip policyholders.

I haven’t been near the beach or left the hotel since this event – can I claim for loss of holiday?

A travel insurance policy will not provide any cover for loss of services or loss of enjoyment following an incident. However, we would advise contacting your travel provider and asking their advice.

Other Important notes:

All claims considered are subject to normal terms and conditions of the policy

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