Snow disruption to travel - travel insurance update

Snow conditions update

The winter weather continues to affect thousands of travellers across the UK with further heavy snow warnings in place for the North East, Yorkshire and Humber, the East, London and the South East, the South West, Grampian, Strathclyde, Central Scotland, Tayside and Fife, Southwest Scotland, Lothian and the Borders.

Gatwick Airport has now reopened, but there will still be delays or cancellations to certain flights. Edinburgh Airport has also reopened, but expect delays. Durham Tees Valley Airport remains closed and hopes to open at 4.00 pm today. Robin Hood Airport (Doncaster/Sheffield) remains closed and expects to be closed until 10.00 am on Sunday. Southampton Airport is closed until at least noon today. London City Airport has reopened but is still experiencing delays. And finally at present, Humberside Airport is open.

Leeds Bradford, Heathrow, Lands End, Newcastle and Aberdeen Airports are experiencing severe delays, whilst most other airports are experiencing some delays, so you are advised to contact your airline/tour operator or departure airport directly to obtain up to the minute information on your travel plans.

Eurotunnel are experiencing delays and are operating a reduced service with 1 departure expected per hour in both directions.

Eurostar services are also affected and will be operating a significantly reduced service until Sunday 5 December.

Travel Insurance Cover

If you are unable to travel due to the bad weather you may be covered by the following sections of your travel insurance policy:

Travel Delay

If your flight is delayed due to the bad weather conditions, Insurewithease.com offers customers a fixed benefit following a specified length of delay at your international departure point. A benefit is payable after a 12 hour delay and a further amount for each further 12 hours. The amount varies according to your level of cover. Please check your policy schedule for details. For this cover to apply you must have checked-in for your flight/journey in line with your original booking conditions.

After a delay of 24 hours or more you have the option to cancel your holiday and make a claim for the full amount. Again, for this cover to apply you must have checked-in for your flight/journey in line with your original booking conditions.

Missed Departure due to snow conditions

If you arrive too late to board your booked transport on the international outward departure, as a result of either:

1. (a) public transport services failing to get you to your point of international departure due to snow fall, either by services being cancelled, delayed or the public service vehicle being involved in an accident; or
2. (b) the private motor vehicle in which you are travelling being directly involved in an accident or breakdown;

then we will pay reasonable and necessary additional travel and accommodation costs to allow you to get to your intended destination, up to a maximum amount, as specified in your policy schedule.

If the airline or tour operator cancels your flight

In these instances most airlines/tour operators will offer you an alternative. If the alternative is not acceptable, you have a right to a refund from the airline/tour operator. If you have other associated costs that cannot be cancelled without charge, like accommodation or car hire costs, if you are able to obtain a letter from the airline to confirm your flight was cancelled due to the inclement weather, you will be able to submit a claim for these additional costs.

NB. Under the ‘Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992' Tour Operators must repay all monies relating to the holiday contract if an alternative is not offered and accepted by the customer.

You miss your flight due to delays when driving to the airport

Unless the vehicle you are travelling in is involved in an accident or breaks down, no cover applies. You must leave sufficient time to travel to the airport to allow you to check-in for your flight in line with your original booking conditions. In weather conditions of this nature, plenty of extra time should be allowed for your journey to the airport.

If you are stuck overseas because your flight home has been cancelled?

This is a matter for your airline or tour operator, so please speak with them directly. If you had already checked-in on your international return journey to the UK and your delay is of 12 hours or more, you are able to claim for Travel Delay. In addition as the circumstances are beyond your control, your insurance cover automatically extends, without charge, until such time as you are able to return to the UK.

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