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Coronavirus: What are your travel rights? Coronavirus: Can I get a holiday refund and what are my travel rights?
(about 1 month later)
All non-essential foreign travel from the UK should be halted, according to advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). People have been advised against making any non-essential international travel, by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO).
It comes amid mass cancellation of flights as new cases are being diagnosed around the world every day. So what does the outbreak mean for your travel plans? Only a fraction of regular flights are still running - and those who do travel risk being stranded abroad.
So what does this mean for any holidays planned for this year?
What are my travel rights?What are my travel rights?
In general, insurers and airlines take their cue from official UK foreign travel advice.In general, insurers and airlines take their cue from official UK foreign travel advice.
If you go against it, you risk invalidating your insurance policy.If you go against it, you risk invalidating your insurance policy.
If the advice is against "all but essential travel" and your trip is essential, some insurers will still maintain cover. If you currently have to make an essential trip, some insurers will still maintain cover.
Your rights can also depend on your choice of airline and the small print of your insurance policy - so do read it carefully.Your rights can also depend on your choice of airline and the small print of your insurance policy - so do read it carefully.
Where should be avoided? Can I get a holiday refund?
The FCO is constantly updating its advice and is ruling out all but essential travel worldwide for at least a month. If your flight is cancelled, you are entitled to a full refund to the original form of payment within seven days.
If your flight is cancelled, the airline should offer a refund. However, many customers are reporting their airlines are offering a voucher for another flight instead of a refund.
Airlines also have a duty of care to get passengers home if a return flight is cancelled, unless the passenger has accepted a refund for that return trip. Rescue flights are being organised for those struggling to get home from certain destinations around the world. And trade body Airlines UK told BBC News, in early April, vouchers were its preferred method of compensation in a "very grave" financial situation.
As well as UK government advice, other countries have their own restrictions. For example, there are strict EU restrictions in place. Budget airline Ryanair says customers who want a cash refund will receive it ''in due course'' as it is dealing with a much higher volume of requests than usual, with fewer staff.
Can I rebook instead? If you are offered a voucher, or a free rebooking, you can accept or refuse it.
Many airlines, including British Airways, EasyJet and Virgin Atlantic, are currently letting passengers rebook flights for free. But if the airline later folds, the voucher will probably become invalid.
Many hotels in areas under lockdown are offering refunds or the option to rebook. But if the hotel and its location are open, and the booking is non-refundable, travellers may lose out. And if you rebook but later decide against going on a flight that has not been cancelled, you will have lost your right to a refund and may not be covered by your travel insurance.
Insurers are telling customers they should ask their holiday provider or airline for refunds or rebookings first. Even when travel tickets are refunded, there can be other costs, such as hotel rooms and car hire, which travel insurance may cover. Meanwhile, the Association of British Travel Agents (Abta) told BBC News people whose package holidays had been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic "absolutely have the right to a refund".
"People should keep all their travel invoices and receipts to help the claims process go smoothly," says Laura Dawson, of the Association of British Insurers (ABI). "Abta's expectation is that its members will provide a refund as soon as possible," it said
You might find insurers take a different view on when you can put in a claim. Some will look at it within 28 days of your planned departure. Others ask the traveller to wait until 48 hours before, just in case the FCO advice changes. But because so many holidays had been affected, travel agents and tour operators would need more than the legal requirement of 14 days to process requests.
What about other costs?
Even when travel tickets are refunded, there can be other costs, such as hotel rooms and car hire, which travel insurance may cover.
"People should keep all their travel invoices and receipts to help the claims process go smoothly," Laura Dawson, of the Association of British Insurers (ABI), says.
But you might find insurers take a different view on when you can put in a claim.
Some will look at it within 28 days of your planned departure.
But others will ask you to wait until 48 hours before, just in case the FCO advice changes.
Should I book a summer holiday?
Booking summer travel probably isn't a good idea, because the current lockdown does not permit holidaying within the UK or overseas.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told BBC Radio 4's Today programme, on 17 April: "I won't be booking a summer holiday at this point, let's put it that way."
This has caused annoyance among some travel operators, with Abta describing the comments as "thoughtless".
But as the outlook for the next few months is highly uncertain and many are struggling to obtain refunds on their existing bookings, it may be sound advice.
Many travel providers are offering additional protection and free cancellation for new bookings.
But insurers are telling customers they should ask their holiday provider or airline for existing refunds or rebookings first.
Have insurance companies changed cover?Have insurance companies changed cover?
A host of insurance companies have stopped selling new policies, or altered cover, in the wake of the outbreak. Some insurers have limited or changed cover for claims relating to Covid-19.
The key is "disruption cover" which should pay out for costs such as unused hotel bookings or car hire. Many policies do not have this as standard. The key is "disruption cover", which should pay out for costs such as unused hotel bookings or car hire.
Some insurers have limited or changed cover for claims relating to the disease. This may mean that a trip booked now may not be covered for disruption, even if you have a valid annual travel insurance policy. And many policies - even if you have a valid annual travel insurance policy - no longer have this as standard.
Many have suspended travel insurance sales completely for the moment, including the Post Office. Also, many insurers, including the Post Office, have simply suspended travel insurance sales completely.
The Association of British Insurers said that travel insurance is for unforeseen circumstances and coronavirus no longer met that criteria. The Association of British Insurers said travel insurance was for unforeseen circumstances and coronavirus no longer met that criteria.
Will my insurance cover me if I miss my flight home because of quarantine?
It very much depends on the type of holiday you booked and the type of travel insurance you have.
Most insurers advise customers to check their policies carefully to see what kind of coverage they get.
A policy's travel delay coverage should outline how much can be reimbursed for additional expenses - such as nights in hotels or meals - if you cannot leave on your scheduled day, according to consumer organisation Which?.
What questions do you have about coronavirus and its impact?What questions do you have about coronavirus and its impact?
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Use this form to ask your question:Use this form to ask your question: