What if my travel plans are affected by extreme weather conditions?

When the freezing weather cripples transport networks and affects holidaymakers in much of the UK, here is the advice from Direct Travel Insurance, if you are due to travel soon:

1. Is it wise to leave your home?

If snow and ice in the UK stops you from making it to your departure point, don't take unnecessary risks to get there.

Direct Travel Insurance will pay for unused accommodation, transport charges etc and other pre-paid charges before your journey begins (up to £6,000 per person depending on your level of cover) if you are unable to leave your home due to poor weather conditions and all departures are cancelled from your international departure point. The resulting delay must last 24 hours or more before we can consider your claim. See Section E2 Abandonment in your policy wording.

2. You've made it to the airport. It's chaos. What do you do?

Check-in as soon as you can. You may not be covered if you do not prove you have checked-in. See Sections E1 Travel delay or Section E2 Abandonment in your policy wording.

3. There's a very long delay and you decide to go home. Are you covered?

As you have been waiting for hours to get on your flight, you and your family decide to abandon your holiday. Direct Travel Insurance will pay for unused travel and accommodation expenses, along with other pre-paid expenses such as excursions, tours, activities and visas if you have been delayed for more than 24 hours (up to £6,000 per person, depending on your level of cover). See Section E2 of your policy wording.

4. There's a very long delay but you decide to wait. Are you covered?

Bear in mind that your travel insurance policy will only pay benefits if you have been delayed for a period of time. Direct Travel Insurance will pay between £20 and £35 per person if you have suffered a 12 hour delay from the scheduled departure time. See Delayed departure or abandonment – Section 8 of your policy wording.
However, for shorter delays, your airline may offer you meals and refreshments in relation to waiting time, two free telephone calls, emails, and hotel accommodation. If your flight has been cancelled, EU regulations require the airline offers you either a full refund, or the soonest available flight.
For full details see the Air Transport Users Council Website http://www.auc.org.uk.

For an update on the weather visit http://www.metoffice.gov.uk. For the latest on traffic and driving conditions visit http://www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/ or http://www.keepmoving.co.uk.

Please note: The term “poor weather” would not include natural catastrophes such as volcanic eruption (and the possible resulting ash clouds), tsunami, flood, earthquake, landslide, hurricane tornado or wildfire. Cover for such eventualities can be provided by purchasing our Natural Catastrophe travel cancellation and expenses add-on.

(Last updated: March 2011)