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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Coronavirus: 'Refunds unlikely' if travellers have to self-isolate | Coronavirus: 'Refunds unlikely' if travellers have to self-isolate |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Holidaymakers will be "bearing all the risk" when overseas getaways return as they face little chance of refunds if they go into self-isolation. | Holidaymakers will be "bearing all the risk" when overseas getaways return as they face little chance of refunds if they go into self-isolation. |
| Anyone who gets coronavirus symptoms at the time they are booked to go away is highly unlikely to get their money back when they cancel their holiday. | Anyone who gets coronavirus symptoms at the time they are booked to go away is highly unlikely to get their money back when they cancel their holiday. |
| Package holiday firms and travel insurance will probably not pay out. | Package holiday firms and travel insurance will probably not pay out. |
| Alex Neill, of resolution service Resolver, said UK tourists needed to be aware they were "taking a risk". | Alex Neill, of resolution service Resolver, said UK tourists needed to be aware they were "taking a risk". |
| "It is likely that new travel insurance policies won't cover you if you develop symptoms before going on holiday - and if the flight or packaged holiday isn't cancelled then you have no automatic right to compensation," she said. | "It is likely that new travel insurance policies won't cover you if you develop symptoms before going on holiday - and if the flight or packaged holiday isn't cancelled then you have no automatic right to compensation," she said. |
| "While it's important to the economy to support the travel industry, at this time it's the customer who is bearing all of the risk." | "While it's important to the economy to support the travel industry, at this time it's the customer who is bearing all of the risk." |
| From Saturday, blanket restrictions on non-essential overseas travel are to be relaxed in the UK. | From Saturday, blanket restrictions on non-essential overseas travel are to be relaxed in the UK. |
| Travel companies said that holiday bookings "exploded" after ministers announced that restrictions would be eased. | Travel companies said that holiday bookings "exploded" after ministers announced that restrictions would be eased. |
| Interest has been heightened by the announcement that dozens of countries will be exempt from travel quarantine requirements when holidaymakers return to England. | Interest has been heightened by the announcement that dozens of countries will be exempt from travel quarantine requirements when holidaymakers return to England. |
| That should mean English holidaymakers returning from lower-risk countries will not need to self-isolate for 14 days when they get home. Restrictions remain for people returning to the rest of the UK. | That should mean English holidaymakers returning from lower-risk countries will not need to self-isolate for 14 days when they get home. Restrictions remain for people returning to the rest of the UK. |
| Travel insurance gaps | Travel insurance gaps |
| People going on overseas getaways are strongly advised to take out travel insurance, which will still cover them for accidents, injury, lost luggage and so on. A European Health Insurance Card will also give access to state healthcare in the EU. | People going on overseas getaways are strongly advised to take out travel insurance, which will still cover them for accidents, injury, lost luggage and so on. A European Health Insurance Card will also give access to state healthcare in the EU. |
| Some new travel insurance policies will now cover medical treatment for Covid-19 which has been caught while in a resort. | Some new travel insurance policies will now cover medical treatment for Covid-19 which has been caught while in a resort. |
| However, people who need to cancel a holiday because they or a loved one develop symptoms before going away, or are told to self-isolate at home, are highly unlikely to be covered. | However, people who need to cancel a holiday because they or a loved one develop symptoms before going away, or are told to self-isolate at home, are highly unlikely to be covered. |
| Similarly, package holiday providers are unlikely to give a refund if a customer cancels in such circumstances. Some may allow rebooking, but that is not guaranteed. | |
| There is a risk that people with holidays booked may try to ignore symptoms, or discard advice from contact tracers to self-isolate. The government has said people have a "civic duty" to quarantine if they receive a call from test and trace advisers. | There is a risk that people with holidays booked may try to ignore symptoms, or discard advice from contact tracers to self-isolate. The government has said people have a "civic duty" to quarantine if they receive a call from test and trace advisers. |
| "Most people would behave responsibly even if that meant losing their holiday, but I would also expect holiday and insurance companies to show a little compassion in these circumstances," Ms Neill said. | "Most people would behave responsibly even if that meant losing their holiday, but I would also expect holiday and insurance companies to show a little compassion in these circumstances," Ms Neill said. |
| "Driving consumers to do the wrong thing can't be an unintended consequence of opening back up from lockdown." | "Driving consumers to do the wrong thing can't be an unintended consequence of opening back up from lockdown." |
| Insurance companies argue that coronavirus is no longer an unforeseen event, so may not be included in cover. | Insurance companies argue that coronavirus is no longer an unforeseen event, so may not be included in cover. |
| The added protection usually available from booking via a credit card is also unlikely to be successful in such cases. | The added protection usually available from booking via a credit card is also unlikely to be successful in such cases. |
| When holidays may be protected | When holidays may be protected |
| There may be better news for people who already had a travel insurance policy bought or renewed prior to early March as they may still be able to make a claim for such a cancellation, but they should check their policy. | There may be better news for people who already had a travel insurance policy bought or renewed prior to early March as they may still be able to make a claim for such a cancellation, but they should check their policy. |
| If the UK, or a destination country, re-introduces restrictions on travel as a result of a fresh outbreak, then a package holiday company or airline should refund holidays or flights that they then need to cancel. | If the UK, or a destination country, re-introduces restrictions on travel as a result of a fresh outbreak, then a package holiday company or airline should refund holidays or flights that they then need to cancel. |
| However, refunds are unlikely if a 14-day quarantine rule is brought back in and a holidaymaker chooses to cancel as a result. | However, refunds are unlikely if a 14-day quarantine rule is brought back in and a holidaymaker chooses to cancel as a result. |
| People taking a holiday within the UK will have to look at terms and conditions when booking for information about their cancellation rights. | People taking a holiday within the UK will have to look at terms and conditions when booking for information about their cancellation rights. |