Important General Policy Exclusion:
No coverage applies under any section for the failure of air traffic control, airport computer systems, or travel booking systems—including loss of access, use, data, or system failure—if and only if that failure is directly caused by a cyber attack. Standard operational, technical, or non-cyber-related disruptions remain covered under the normal terms of the policy.
A. Our standard travel insurance may provide cover if your journey is disrupted by a delay or cancellation of public transport, subject to the terms, conditions and limits of your policy.
If you miss your booked public transport because another public transport service fails, you may be covered for reasonable additional accommodation (room only) and economy public transport costs to allow you to continue your trip, up to the policy limit.
If your public transport is delayed by more than 12 hours at the final departure point to or from the UK, you may be able to claim:
A benefit for each completed period of delay, to help with telephone calls, meals and refreshments; and
A proportion of unused travel and accommodation costs, subject to the policy limits.
If your public transport is delayed or cancelled and no suitable alternative is provided within 12 hours of the scheduled departure time, you may be able to cancel your trip and claim under the applicable cancellation section, subject to the policy terms and exclusions.
If your return to the UK is delayed as a result of any of these covered eventualities, your policy will automatically extend free of charge. This extension is valid provided you accept the first suitable alternatives offered by your airline/tour operator and do not intentionally delay your return. This extension ensures you remain fully covered under the terms of your policy until you are reasonably able to complete your journey home.
Independent of insurance, if your flight is delayed or cancelled, you have legal rights under UK261/EU261 regulations enforced by the airline. This includes a "Duty of Care" (food, drink, and overnight accommodation if required) and the right to be re-routed or receive a full refund. However, air traffic control issues are classified as extraordinary circumstances, meaning additional cash compensation does not apply.
If you booked your trip as a package holiday, you are protected under the Package Travel Regulations. Your tour operator is legally responsible for managing your trip, including arranging alternative transport or providing a full refund if the holiday cannot go ahead as planned.
If you have purchased the Travel Disruption add-on, additional cover may apply where your trip is disrupted.
This can include:
You may be covered if:
No suitable alternative public transport is provided within 12 hours of your departure date following a delay or cancellation; or
You are involuntarily denied boarding and no suitable alternative is provided within the specified timeframe; or
Your public transport provider rearranges your departure or return within 7 days of the original date and the change causes you to miss 50% or more of your trip.
If you are involuntarily denied boarding and no suitable alternative is provided within the specified timeframe, you may be covered for reasonable additional accommodation (room only) and economy public transport costs to continue your trip, up to the policy limit.
Please note: Package holidays are not covered under this travel disruption section to continue the trip, as your tour operator is legally required to make these arrangements for you.
You may also be covered for reasonable additional accommodation and public transport expenses, up to the standard of your original booking, if your trip is disrupted due to:
A catastrophe;
Insolvency of your accommodation provider or booking agent;
A qualifying delay or cancellation where no suitable alternative public transport is provided within 12 hours; or
Involuntary denied boarding where no suitable alternative is provided within the specified timeframe.
Q. Can I add Travel Disruption cover while I am already abroad?
A. No, this cannot be added for single trips. If you add it to an Annual Multi-Trip policy while abroad, the cover will not apply to your current trip and will only take effect as from your next trip leaving the UK.
Cover is subject to the terms, conditions, exclusions and limits of your policy. Disruptions caused directly or indirectly by war or terrorism, Travelling against FCDO advice and in some sections pandemics or regional quarantine, are excluded as specified in the policy.
